Båstad riots
Encyclopedia
The Båstad riots is the name given to the riots, that took place during a Davis Cup
tennis match between Sweden
and Rhodesia
on May 3, 1968 in Båstad
, Sweden.
Demonstrators were protesting the participation of the two apartheid countries, Rhodesia and South Africa
's in the international tennis competition. The countries were barred from other international sporting events. It became the most violent confrontation between Swedish Police
and demonstrators during the 1960s. It was followed by a dialogue between the Swedish Government and the demonstrators to curb the escalation of violence.
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
tennis match between Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
on May 3, 1968 in Båstad
Båstad
Båstad is a locality and the seat of Båstad Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden with 4,793 inhabitants in 2005.-Geography:The town of Båstad is located in a sheltered bay with the Hallandian ridge stretching behind it...
, Sweden.
Demonstrators were protesting the participation of the two apartheid countries, Rhodesia and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
's in the international tennis competition. The countries were barred from other international sporting events. It became the most violent confrontation between Swedish Police
Swedish Police Service
The Swedish Police Service is a collection of Government agencies concerned with police matters in Sweden. The Swedish Police Service consists of 28,500 employees of which 39 per cent are women. The staff consists of 20,000 police officers of which 25 per cent are women and 8,500 civilian staff of...
and demonstrators during the 1960s. It was followed by a dialogue between the Swedish Government and the demonstrators to curb the escalation of violence.