Jaakko Puurula, who belongs to the top management of Valmet Technologies, is the overwhelming favorite to become the new chairman of the Biathlon Union.
At the same time as the Biathlon World Cup starts on Saturday from Kontiolahti, the buzz is also going on behind the scenes of the sport. The Finnish biathlon team will gather in two weeks on December 14 in Tampere to the federal assemblyin which the unusually long reign of two men in Finland’s former successful sport is brought to an end.
Since 2006, the union has been led without a break by either a trade advisor Kalle Lähdesmäki or brigadier general evp Olli Nepponen. Last fall, Lähdesmäki announced that he would not apply for another term as chairman. He is the Biathlon Union’s candidate for the new board of the Olympic Committee, which will be elected in Helsinki on Saturday, November 30.
The new biathlon boss is chosen by the federation assembly made up of clubs. According to Urheilu’s information, the overwhelming front-runner for the new chairman is a member of the top management of Valmet Technologies Jaakko Puurulawhich has not previously belonged to the inner circle of the sport. A member of Fortum’s management is about to become vice-chairman Juha Finniläwho during his active career was a member of the junior national teams in biathlon.
– Puurula’s support among the clubs is very strong, a person belonging to the inner circle of the association tells Urheilu.
The Ampuhiihtoliitto made a loss of almost 207,000 euros from its previous fiscal year, which also dropped the organization’s equity to a negative. The most important task of the new trust management is considered to be raking in market-based partnership money. The additional need has been estimated at up to 200,000 euros per year.
In accordance with its strategy, the association invests very heavily in national team coaching, so that Finland would at least return to the international top at the World Championships in Lenzerheide in 2025 or at the latest in biathlon at the Milan Olympic Games in Anterselva in 2026.
One presidential term in the union lasts two years.