The internet recently buzzed with the bizarre claim that Sweden had declared sex a sport and was organizing a tournament.
International media fell for the gag and reported it as truth.
A headline on the website for The Times of India, one of India’s most popular and reputable newspapers, reads that “Sweden Will Soon Host the European Sex Championship.”
According to the report, Sweden has officially recognized sex as a sport and, to determine who’s best at it, would host a tournament in which contestants would engage in daily encounters lasting up to six hours.
The competition was apparently scheduled to begin June 8 in the city of Gothenburg.
Other mainstream outlets and their social media platforms have also carried the claim. However, the Swedish sports body has denied the existence of any such event.
Some Pakistani websites also covered the story. A Greek portal even mentioned the participation of Greek contestants in the tournament. The reputable South African media house IOL and a Nigerian website also reported the story.
In its report on the competition, the popular German media house RTL conducted a poll asking users: “What do you think about recognizing sex as a sport?”
“All this information is false,” Anna Setzman, spokesperson for the Swedish Sports Confederation, said in a written statement from Stockholm to DW. “Right now, false information is being spread in some international media about Sweden and Swedish sports,” she added. “These are vigorously denied.”
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