The Kuortanene sports college boss has plenty of support among the member organizations of the Olympic Committee. Tapio Korjus does not want to reveal his intentions, Jan Vapaavuori says he will decide on his future only later.
If elected as chairman of the Olympic Committee for the term 2021–2024 in 2020 Jan Vapaavuori wants a continuation season 2024–2028 in November, according to Urheilu’s information, the player has a stump the size of an Olympic champion in the javelin throw. Principal of Kuortanene sports college, sports influencer Tapio Korjus is very seriously considering running for office.
Several influential member organizations of the Olympic Committee have appealed to Korjus to make his name available as chairman. The composition of the board is decided by the member organizations at the autumn meeting.
The 1988 Olympic champion, who will reach retirement age next year, now sits on the board of the Olympic Committee as vice-chairman. Vapaavuori commented to Urheilu that he will announce his further plans after the Olympic Games in Paris that end in August. Korjus was on the same lines on Tuesday.
– The Olympic Committee’s trust management and staff have Paris in their sights. The time for deliberations on the composition of the next board will come after them.
Korjus did not deny that his readiness for the chairman game has been asked from several parties. He doesn’t consider his age a problem.
– I’m talking on a general level, but yes, after a versatile and long working career, a person in good shape is also suitable for demanding positions of trust in sports.
Concern for elite sports
According to Urheilu’s information, Korjus has been contacted by individuals and organizations who are very concerned about the position of elite sports in the Olympic Committee, which has grown to become the umbrella organization of almost all Finnish sports. Korjus and some of the Olympic Committee’s top sports people have not hidden their views on the current committee’s priorities, recruitment and use of resources in background discussions.
In addition to his work as the principal of the Kuortanen sports college, Korjus, who is also the director of the college’s coaching center, has a very significant career as a sports influencer after his active career ended in 1989. He served as a member of the State Sports Council for 24 years, eight of them as chairman. Currently, Korjus, who was the development director at the Sports Confederation, leads the boards of the research institute Kihu and the global coaching center organization ASPC.
He strongly influenced the fact that Kuortanee became a global javelin training center certified by the international umbrella organization of athletics, the IAAF (now World Athletics). In addition to his paid work, Korjus coached e.g. Mikaela Ingbergwho threw three value race medals.