The slopes could already be used for skiing World Cup competitions, but the area’s infrastructure would require development.
A ski competition alone is not enough to attract the public, but to attract people, other entertainment and programs are needed.
This is the opinion of the executive director of the Ounasvaara Ski Club Janne Mäkinenwho wants to grow the traditional Ounasvaara Winter Games held in Rovaniemi into a big public event.
The Ounasvaara Winter Competitions were organized for the first time in 1927, which means that the centenary of the competitions is approaching. The event’s golden days were in the 1950s and 1960s, when the audience in Ounasvaara was at its peak more than 30,000.
Since then, the event waned, and it was dug up from mothballs two years ago.
– The competition serves as a context for the event, which is intended to create a common tradition for the entire city, Mäkinen plans.
According to Mäkinen, the ski association’s financial difficulties will not affect the organization of the Finnish Cup and SM event, because the construction of the games is in the club’s hands.
– The Ski Federation assigns a technical supervisor to the competition, who checks that the competition is organized in accordance with the standards.
Dosing has not been considered
This year, the Ounasvaara Winter Games had other attractions than Finland’s top skiers. For example, a tube player Joona Hellmanwho was greeted by a long line of children and young people.
– We have invested in the event more than in previous years, so that even those people who are not so interested in skiing, combined or ski jumping, would be motivated to go to competitions.
This year’s races also had different grandstand options along the track.
VIP lounge, Ounasvaara school’s own grandstand with good views of the track, the stands of the local sports shop, Joona Hellma, and skiers Lauri Vuorinen and Werner Suhosen.
Janne Mäkinen, executive director
Director of operations Janne Mäkinen came up with the idea of getting a sauna grandstand for the Ounasvaara Winter Games.
It was warmed by wood and from the window you could look out onto the track.
In Finland, for example, there are sauna trucks that could be brought to the next games.
Janne Mäkinen, executive director Ounasvaara Ski Club
Some of the adult spectators of Ounasvaara’s Talvikisos thought that the atmosphere of the competitions could be enhanced by alcohol. However, such has not been organized for the Games.
– We try to create a good feeling otherwise. In addition to Joona Hellman, the audience got to meet our local athletes: Lauri Vuorista, Jasmi Joensuuta and Johanna Matintaloa.
World Cup for Ounasvaara?
Ounasvaara’s racetracks are of an international standard. For them, for example, World Cup competitions could be organized in Rovaniemi right away. On the other hand, the area’s infrastructure is not there today.
– We need a parking space and a better maintenance building and the area in such a way that the public can fit here. For example, there are not enough stands here, Janne Mäkinen says.
In the Ounasvaara development plan of the city of Rovaniemi, several development points are presented for the area, of which a roller ski track would serve skiers in particular.
A cycling park, soccer field and other summer activities are also planned for the area.
According to the plan, winter skiing conditions should be improved with new maintenance and lubrication buildings.
Rovaniemi’s accommodation capacity is also a bottleneck for world-class games. In winter, the city’s hotels are full of tourists, which also skyrockets accommodation prices.
The events finance the club’s activities
The chairman of the Ounasvaara ski club’s ski section is a top skier of the past years Pirjo Muranen. According to him, it is both regionally and nationally significant that Rovaniemi is able to organize a high-level competition, which is also a high-quality event.
Organizing events is a significant source of income for sports clubs. The same goes for the Ounasvaara ski club.
– With the proceeds from the events, we are able to support and secure, among other things, the skiing hobby of children and young people in our company.