“I didn’t even expect medals” – citizens’ rude verdict on Finland’s historical legacy | Olympics

Money, training or attitude? Citizens pondered the reasons for the medal-less performance of the Finnish Olympic team.

Paris Olympics on channels 26.7.–11.8. Go to the competition website here. You can find the entire program of the games here.

For the first time in Olympic history, Finland is about to be completely without medals. asked citizens’ views on the performance of the Finnish team at the Paris Games. The verdict was blunt.

All the interviewees described being disappointed. Many also stated that they did not expect better.

– I have watched the Olympics with sadness. I’m disappointed, to be honest, I’m a vociferous person Reijo Ahonen states.

– Yes, it is disappointing for a bench athlete. Something has been done wrong. I think the reason can be found at the grassroots level, if you compare it to, for example, other Nordic countries, from Turku Tommi Vainio evaluate.

From Naantali Vesa Coast believes that the disappointment is due to the fact that Finland is used to receiving medals.

– I didn’t really expect medals. In these games, there were no athletes who had high expectations, for example in the media, from Turku Saga Lindblad says.

Finland has participated in the Olympic Games since 1908. In the Paris Games, the official goal of the team was two medals, but in practice all medal seams have gone before the end of the Games.

Sports bosses still don’t know why Finland didn’t succeed at the Olympics. It’s inconvenient for citizens too.

– It’s quite difficult to say how the loss will happen in the future. There are wiser people who know that. Young people should be made to stay involved in sports, and through that (success could come). That money is not always the solution, although it is needed, Vainio thinks.

However, many of the interviewees offer money as a solution. For example, from Turku Pirjo Halonen hopes that sports would get more funding.

– The question is difficult. I guess the only way to help is to increase training – and of course that money is also needed, says Reijo Ahonen.

From Turku Antton Laine believes that people are generally lazy. It is also reflected in athletes.

– Athletes may not focus enough on what they should really be doing. You should grab yourself by the neck and start doing those jobs seriously. It’s pointless to go there to get medals if you’re not ready to invest one hundred percent and a little more, Laine says.