A private financier is trying to speed up the breakthrough of Finnish promises – with the aim of raising a pot of 30 million euros

Läpimurtosäätiö distributed its first grants to young athletes and clubs last week.

When a young athlete tries to rise to the top, it requires resources. A factor that slows down and makes it difficult to make a breakthrough can simply be a lack of money. The Läpimurtosäätiö, established to help young athletes in this situation, distributed its first grants last week.

In addition to elite sports, the foundation supports actors whose goal is to create equal opportunities for Finnish children to participate in sports.

The breakthrough regulation was established last year Tuomas Lang. Lang, who became prosperous through the capital investment company, donated three million euros with his family as the foundation’s initial capital. Since then, the foundation has also received other donations and is assisted by experts.

Why did Lang set out to support young athletes?

– We recognized the need for sports for Finnish children and youth. When presumably society’s ability to help athletes is at least not increasing, the private sector needs to step up. We are clearly behind the comparison countries in building the private sector, Lang justified the establishment of the foundation.

Lang admits to being a fan of sports.

– I’ve played many sports, but I’m not good at anything, fair at racket games. I am a sports fan by nature, Bench Sports is really close. The Munich Olympics from 1972 have remained deep in the soul.

The first grants of the Läpimurtosättlo received over 300 applications from individual athletes and about 50 from clubs. Ten individual athletes and six clubs were selected to receive support.

– Based on the applications, we selected athletes who met the criteria we gave in advance: are serious about sports, have a sufficient level of ambition, have the potential for success, there is already some evidence. Little by little, we narrowed it down so that only a few dozen remained. Then we interviewed them and based on that we made the final choices, Lang said.

Lang reminds that it was the foundation’s first grant process. In the next process in the fall, we will already be wiser.

– We had to completely ignore quite a few sports because the resources and expertise were not enough. Choosing is a demanding job. We work hard to recruit the best experts in different sports to help us with that.

Athletes who have received support are required to compete according to the ethical principles of sportsmanship and adhere to anti-doping rules. In addition, they are required to be available to the foundation and its partners in the area of ​​communication.

– It is not objectionable to the athletes, because they are building their own athlete brand at the same time.

Lang has tough goals in increasing the regulatory capital.

– When it has been said out loud that we are trying to increase the foundation’s capital tenfold to 30 million, then we will go towards it. During this year, the goal is to break 10 million euros in equity, and we are well on our way to that. If we get the full 30 million, we will be able to support around 100 athletes a year. Then it starts to have a big impact.

“This support is really important”

One of the first recipients of the support is a 21-year-old tennis player Ella Haavisto, who is playing national team games this week in the Billie Jean King Cup in North Macedonia. Support is a big help for him.

– This support is really important. Tennis is an expensive and international sport, you have to play a lot abroad, Haavisto said.

Money for Haavisto has otherwise come from sponsors, the club and parents whenever possible. Haavisto, who plays in small professional competitions, also receives prize money from the competitions, but they are not large at that level. The goals are naturally higher.

– I’m trying to raise the ranking and get to bigger competitions all the time and possibly in a few years to be in the top 100 on the world list.