The Summer Olympics in Paris will start on July 26, 2024. So it’s more than a year and a half until the start of the Games. The Finns’ wish would be to see as many Finnish athletes as possible at the Games, perhaps even a men’s ball team.
Deputy director of the elite sports unit of the Olympic Committee Leena Paavolainen says that the qualifying systems and schedules for all other sports except athletics are known very precisely. The schedules for athletics should also be clarified during the current year.
– One of the biggest changes compared to previous games is that, for the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, there will be an equal number of female and male athletes in Paris, says Paavolainen.
The list of sports will change a little. Breakdance is included as a new sport in Paris, and karate, which was still included in Tokyo, is dropped.
– Within the sports, there will be some changes in the women’s and men’s classes or series and with it the number of athletes. In addition, there will be more mixed competitions, where men and women compete in the same team.
In some sports, competition places are allocated to Paris in much the same way as to Tokyo, but there are also differences.
– Among other things, in shooting sports, places are only allocated on the basis of the continental championships and the World Championships. There are no more places available for the World Cups.
Competition places in Paris are not easily obtained, at least not easier than for previous competitions. The challenge is caused especially by the fact that in many cases the choices are left at the very last moment.
– Only the places for riding will be available by the end of 2023. Sailing will be decided in April-May 2024. For all other sports, the qualifiers will continue during the spring and early summer of 2024, and most of the Finns’ places will not be determined until June 2024, Leena Paavolainen says.
According to current information, Finland will not receive a so-called wild card in any sport.
The war in Ukraine creates its own problem. The IOC has considered a scenario in which the war would be over by the time Paris is reached, and with that Russian and Belarusian athletes could participate in Paris. It is a significant and difficult political issue, because in the case of Russia it is a major power whose right to participate is also overshadowed by doping ambiguities.
But what is the Finnish athletes’ road to Paris like? Urheilu reviewed the situation sport by sport.
Shooting
A traditional success genre. Finns have excellent opportunities to compete in several sports.
Breakdance
There are international level athletes in Finland, but in total there are only 32 places available for the games, 16 for both sexes and five continents.
Golf
Finland will send two men and two women based on the world rankings in June 2024.
Football
Finland is not included. 16 countries for men, 12 for women.
Archery
Finnish voting possible.
Judo
Finnish participation possible.
Climbing
No Finns included.
Basketball
Men have a chance to compete. In basketball, you can get a place either through the World Cup or in the spring of 2024, when each of the best of the four qualifying tournaments of six countries will have a place.
Team handball
Finland is not included.
Surfing
Finland is not included.
Volleyball
In the fall of 2023, there will be qualifying tournaments, from which there is a chance for a place in the competition.
Beach volleyball
To be decided in June 2024 according to the ranking. Places for Finns are hard work but possible.
Hockey
Finland is not included.
Kayaking
The Finns’ place in the competition is not completely ruled out, but it requires big successes.
Fencing
Niko Vuorinen preparing for Paris. The Olympic place will be decided on April 1, 2024, when the Olympic ranking will be closed.
Modern pentathlon
Small chance for a Finnish place. Will be decided according to the ranking in June 2024.
Boxing
The IOC organizes the competitions and has taken the organizing rights from the international association IBA, as happened in the case of Tokyo.
The first places will be awarded from next summer’s European Games, from which 44 direct places will be awarded (22 men and 22 women). It is the biggest qualifying race in Paris, which means that there are the most places up for grabs. In the spring of 2024, two world qualifying tournaments.
Olympic rowing
Finnish places are tight and won’t be available until spring 2024.
Wrestling
It is realistic that men will get places in Paris. From the 2023 World Cup, five places will be allocated to each series. There are also continental qualifiers.
Weight lifting
There are changes in the series. In Paris, five series for both sexes. The ranking period ends in April 2024. A total of 60 places for both sexes. Doping scandals that occurred before the Games can reduce the country’s quotas and the country can be excluded from the Games.
Sailing
Finland has a realistic chance of getting 5–8 sailors to Paris. Places through the World Cup.
Cycling
Lotta in Henttala there is a small chance of a place in the competition, because she is already training after her maternity leave, but the situation is completely open.
Table tennis
With Benedek Olah is a realistic chance for a place in the competition, although this year has not gone in the best possible way. Places are allocated at the World Championships, based on ranking and continental qualifiers.
Riding
Small chances for a place in the competition. The ranking expires at the end of 2023.
Skateboarding
Only 11 years old Heili Sirviö has announced that he is aiming for Paris. Sending him has to be considered from the point of view of responsibility. It is not quite utopian that his level would be enough for the Games.
Badminton
The ranking closes at the end of April 2024. It is realistic that there are many Finns participating in the Games.
Taekwondo
Places are really tight. Not very realistic.
Skill swimming
Finns not included.
Tennis
The Finns have a good chance of a place in the competition. The ranking closes in June 2024. Places for both sexes 86. Through the world ranking, 56 direct places. No quota places for continents. Country-specific quotas of 4 athletes exist.
Triathlon
Finns not included.
Swimming jumps
Finns not included.
Swimming
Places will be decided at the end of June 2024. Finns have a good chance of getting places.
Water polo
Finland is not included.
Gymnastics
Places are possible for Finns, especially in men’s balance beam gymnastics. However, the places are really tight for both the rack and rhythmic gymnastics.
Athletics
There are Finns involved, but the qualifying system will not be known until the end of the year.