Facts and history
Bosön – a historical gathering place
Did you know that Pelé has lived on Bosön? Or that Paul U Bergström, the founder of the department store PUB, had Bosön as a summer paradise before the Swedish Sports Confederation moved? He lived here at the beginning of the century, and had the current Mästarvillan built in the 1920s. The Swedish Sports Confederation bought the property in 1938.
The first course was held at Bosön in 1939, a cycling course for coaches and athletes. During World War II, several of the farms on Lidingö were used by the armed forces. Bosön had a listening station where, among other things, they broke the Germans’ cryptos in connection with the Finnish war. On Askrikefjärden there was a torpedo firing range.
After the war in the 1940s, Bosön was expanded. Then the ballroom, swimming pool and outdoor athletics facility were added. During the 40s, 50s and 60s, intensive training activities were carried out. Many, if not all, Swedish sportswomen and men of national team quality visited Bosön one or more times during their careers.
In 1958, Sweden hosted the World Cup, and Bosön was used as a base for the future world champions Brazil, which included the then unknown but later very well-known World Cup player Pelé. An international training match between Sweden and Brazil was also played at Bosön. A match that a number of Lidingö residents today would like to remember, with many autographs saved.
Increased focus on education
In 1970, the sports report “Sport for all” was published. The report prioritized education, which included a 10-year expansion program for Bosön. The properties were renovated, and the school building, today’s Olympiahus, and the hotel parts Liraren and Lyftaren were built. The outdoor facilities were expanded, and in 1983 the athletics hall was built, which was then Sweden’s first.
In 1978, Bosön became its own folk high school, and by the early 1990s the school’s activities had doubled to 140 students. In addition, the cooperation courses with the sports federation included 150 courses. The increase in conference activities was more modest, and it was time for another major facelift and expansion.
Bosön is being expanded
In the early 1990s, the Swedish Sports Confederation left its involvement in Vålådalen and Lillsved to invest further in Bosön. Olympiahuset was expanded with a new kitchen and a modern dining room with room for 350 guests, and the conference facilities were expanded.
A new hotel section, Löparen, was built. Mästarvillan was thoroughly refurbished to a modern conference standard with a fine restaurant. The laboratory was expanded and renovated, and the swimming pool was thoroughly refurbished. Student housing – Student Campus – was built in the area. These were prototypes for what the accommodation in the Olympic village would look like in the 2004 Olympics, which Stockholm did not get.
In 2006, Vinnarhallen was built, which is one of Stockholm’s largest indoor artificial grass pitches. The hall is used for a large number of sports and activities. 2011 saw the completion of Ledaren, an accommodation facility adapted for training camps with four-bed rooms. All hotel buildings have been refurbished and maintenance and renovation continues as more and more people come to live and visit Bosön.
In 2016, the journey starts to clarify Bosön’s contribution to Swedish sports strategy 2025. The National Sports Board decides to invest in four strategically important activities – Education, Training and Testing, Sports Medicine and Hotel and Conference. Everything will be gathered under the Bosön brand, which in turn will also be clarified. In addition to meeting members’ requirements and needs, all activities will be opened up to other target groups. In March 2020, the new Framgångshallen will be inaugurated. A completely renovated training facility with a large capacity, adapted for cross-sport training and the ability to receive athletes from all sports.
From 2020, we offer not only the Bosön site, but also the expertise and experience built up here over decades. We can contribute to your camp, training or conference through test leaders, trainers, coaches and lecturers.
You as a private individual are also welcome to take advantage of what the training facilities, restaurants and hotel have to offer.
The organization
– The Bosön Foundation, organization number 813600-0497, was established in 1938. The foundation’s principal is the Swedish Sports Confederation. In addition to property management, we are responsible for Framgångshallen and you as a guest when you come to Idrottshuset.
– Studieförbundet SISU Idrottsutbildarna, organization number 802012-2845, is the principal for all educational activities, including Bosön Idrottsfolkhögskola with about 150 students annually.
– RF’s department for elite sports support is responsible for the staff and activities of the Swedish Sports Confederation’s Laboratory for Performance Development.
– Stockholm Meeting Selection AB, organization number 556817-9799, has since 2011 been responsible for all services in the form of hotels, conferences, restaurants and sports halls.
We see each other as colleagues with different missions, with the hope that you as a guest will not notice any difference when you meet us, whatever your needs are.
See you at Bosön! Together we build success.