The skiing association had to present its financial statements with a minus sign of around 600,000 euros to its federal council in March. The position of the auditors changed the situation dramatically.
The management duo of the Ski Association, i.e. the chairman Markku Haapasalmi and executive director Ismo Hämäläinen gave an interview to Urheilu three months ago, in which he estimated the losses for the fiscal year that ended at the turn of October-November at around 600,000 euros. The chapter included the Hiihtoliitto Group, i.e. the parent association Hiihtoliitto ry and its commercial company Nordic Ski Finland Oy.
The completed accounting period was exceptionally long and lasted from the beginning of June 2022 to the end of October 2023. In the future, the accounting period will be November 1–30. of October, which helps the association and the commercial company in budgeting and expense periodicity.
In the interview, chairman Haapasalmi wanted to dispel rumors that the losses would be significantly higher. Three months later, however, the situation seems to have changed significantly.
Due to the sensitivity of the matter, the members of the Ski Federation’s federal council, who remain anonymous, say that they received completely new information about the financial statements at the turn of January-February.
Management informs
– The top trust management and operative management told the federal council in a remote meeting that the deficit for the financial year would be rising significantly from the previously reported numbers and would now be in the million range, a member of the 39-member federal council tells Urheilu.
The previous one result of the financial year had a surplus of around 154,000 euros.
The most recent financial statement is to be approved in connection with the Äänekoski SM skiing on 22-24. March. According to the rules of the ski association, it is approved or not approved by the federal council.
According to members of the federal council, the change in the situation is due to the position of the auditors of the Ski Federation. According to Urheilu’s information, part of the income of the 2024–2025 season, such as international media contract money, was supposed to be recorded on the income side of this financial statement. It was a very significant sum. This did not go down well with the auditors.
In the case, no one is suspected of, for example, financial abuses or any other inappropriate procedure. Chairman Haapasalmi did not want to comment on the matter from the beginning of the week; he appealed to the “incompleteness of the financial statements”. The chairman of the Federal Council Arto Tolosen according to the scenario described above “has been discussed, but the matter is unfinished and the situation may change”.
A tough year
Due to financial difficulties, last year was also difficult for the staff and athletes in the Ski Federation, for example due to drastically cut training camps. The staff of the association vented their bad feelings in the address, where the management of the Ski Association was very strongly criticized.
The federal council will also choose a new chairman for the organization in March. Haapasalmi, who was elected in 2017, has held the position for three two-year terms and is now stepping down. So far, only the person sitting on the board of the association with the cross-country mandate has publicly registered as a candidate for continuation Sirpa Korkatti.
Members of the Federal Council have inquired about the interest of a few very high-profile people, but so far without success. At least the general has been asked interestingly From Timo Kivinen, from the commander who will transfer to the reserve with the defense forces at the end of March. Urheilu’s expert, ex-head coach of the combined national team, also received a courtship call Petter Kukkonen. Neither harnessed the electoral wagons.
However, one member of the federal council tells Urheilu that a heavyweight person is still being sought as Korkat’s counter-candidate.