Ice hockey: Fans welcome Sweden home

STOCKHOLM - Thousands of Swedes packed a central Stockholm square today to welcome home their ice hockey team after they completed a golden double of the world and Olympic titles at the weekend.

Sweden shutout the Czech Republic 4-0 in the world championship final in Riga on Sunday after securing the Olympic crown in Turin in February.

"It's obviously great to stand with the gold medal around your neck, but this is the best," Detroit Red Wings defender Niklas Kronwall told TV6 television station in front of the jubilant fans.

The team lined up on stage wearing golden hockey helmets and sang "We are the champions" and the Swedish national athem.

Sweden's victory in Riga meant it became the first nation to capture Olympic and world titles in the same year.

- REUTERS