Appeals Rejected & Building Permit for the GGN Track Uphheld

PRESS RELEASE May 26, 2026

COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD REJECTS APPEALS – BUILDING PERMIT FOR THE GGN TRACK REMAINS VALID

On May 22, 2026, Nordic Sport & Event took a major step toward securing the permanent establishment of the GGN track in Hejdeby, Gotland.

Nordic Sport & Event, the organizer of the Gotland Grand National, was informed by the Stockholm County Administrative Board on February 18, 2026, that it had assumed responsibility for handling the appeals in cases nos. 5306-2025 and 148-2026.

The reason the Gotland County Administrative Board transferred the cases to another County Administrative Board was due both to limited resources and to allow an external authority to review Region Gotland’s decisions regarding the building permit.

“At first, the decision came as a surprise to us since the Gotland County Administrative Board had been working with the GGN facility in Hejdeby since the fall of 2023, and we believed they could have handled the appeals themselves. However, looking back on it today, the process has become even more robust for us now that the Stockholm County Administrative Board has thoroughly reviewed everything we have done since August 28, 2023, when we were informed that we could no longer remain at the historic Tofta military training grounds,” says Conny Bohlin, CEO of Nordic Sport & Event, in a press release.

On May 22, 2026, the Gotland County Administrative Board decided in Case No. 5306 to deny the appeal regarding the building permit for the GGN track.

The decision states:

“The Gotland County Administrative Board rejects the appeal.”

The Stockholm County Administrative Board has therefore reviewed and upheld Region Gotland’s decision to grant a building permit for an enduro track, including a service loop, parking area, and service building.

“This means that the County Administrative Board has confirmed Region Gotland’s decision regarding a permanent enduro track in Hejdeby, Gotland,” Conny Bohlin continues.

On May 22, 2026, the Gotland County Administrative Board also decided, in case no. 148-2026, to reject the appeals in the matter concerning the notification of environmentally hazardous activities related to the permanent enduro track for the Gotland Grand National (GGN), including the assessment that the activity cannot be considered to cause a significant environmental impact.

At the same time, the County Administrative Board referred a limited portion of the matter back to the Regional Environment and Building Committee for a supplementary review of the permit and exemption regarding the handling of petroleum within a water protection area.

However, the County Administrative Board did not question the location, legality, or overall environmental impact of the activity.

“With regard to the permits related to petroleum handling, we have already operated under similar permits during both GGN 2024 and GGN 2025. In its decision of May 22, 2026, the County Administrative Board did not question the location, legality, or environmental impact of the activity as a whole, but only determined that a formal supplementary exemption and permit review under the water protection regulations is required for parts of the petroleum handling within protected zones. We consider this supplementary review to be a manageable and limited part of the process, since equivalent handling has already been approved during GGN 2024 and GGN 2025,” concludes Conny Bohlin.

Today, May 26, 2026, a request for expedited processing of the matter was submitted to Region Gotland.

GGN 2026 is being planned and will take place as scheduled. The event has already received the necessary approvals under the Swedish Off-Road Driving Act and the Public Order Act.

FACTS
– The Gotland Grand National is the world’s largest enduro race and attracts more than 3,000 riders from several countries every year.
– The Gotland Grand National was founded in 1984 and has been held for 42 consecutive years.
– Participants range in age from approximately 5 to 75 years old.
– An approximately 25-kilometer course through classic Gotland terrain.
– Around 28,000 guest nights are generated during race week.
– Approximately SEK 100 million in annual revenue for the local economy.
– Approximately SEK 800,000 annually to local sports clubs and associations.
– 12 hours of live broadcast coverage in 2026 over two days.
– Event dates: October 22–24, 2026.

For further information, please contact:
Conny Bohlin
CEO, Nordic Sport & Event AB
Phone: +46 70 824 94 94
Email: conny.bohlin@nordicsportevent.se