STOCKHOLM BIDS FOR THE 2004 OLYMPICS: SWEDEN'S FORMER PRIME MINISTER TO LEAD NEW OLYMPIC FOUNDATION Stockholm, December 18 /UNS-AsiaNet/ - Sweden's former prime minister, Mr Ingvar Carlsson will work together with Olympic medallist Ulrika Knape, Volvo's managing director soren Gyll, and author P.O. Engvist, to bid for the 2004 Olympic Games to be held in Stockholm, it was announced today. Thirty representatives from sports, culture, politics, trade and industry have joined them in forming a foundation to put forward the bid. "All of us are convinced that the Olympic Games are important for Sweden. Sweden will conduct tthe best Olympics ever," said Mr Carlsson, chairman of the Swedish 2004 Foundation. Mr Carlsson also believes that Sweden will offer something new to the Olympics. "Sweden's history of peace, democracy, humanity, popular sports and consideration for the environment, makes us fit to realise the ideals of the Olympics." The Swedish 2004 Foundation notes there is strong support among Swedish people for the bid. Other members of the foundation include tennis player Stefan Edberg, industrialist Peter Wallenberg and medallist Agneta Andersson. Foundation members come from all over Sweden, as well as Swedish people living abroad. The foundation also includes representatives from agriculture, The Royal Theatre, trade unions, former medallists, disabled organisations, football clubs, Parliament, industry executives, authors and many others. "We have one thing in common," said Mr Carlsson. "We want to become actively involved in winning the Games for Sweden, above all for the sake of sports. However, the Games are also important for Swedish business and culture." CONTACT: Anneli Roswall Ljung of the Swedish 2004 Foundation, tel Stockholm +46 8 789 24 39