The speeches by Jan Vapaavuori, chairman of the Olympic Committee, and Mika Lehtimäki, head of the top sports unit, who resigned on Monday, contradict the information received by Urheilu.
Heikki Ali-Hokka,
Ossi Saarinen
Mika Lehtimäki said on Monday he would resign as head of the Olympic Committee’s top sports unit. At the press conference, he presented his own version of the events that led to the warning he received in the fall about inappropriate behavior.
Lehtimäki has held one of Finland’s most significant top sports positions since 2018. In March, he was elected to continue his wash until 2024, although the warning was known to the Olympic Committee Bureau and CEO.
On Monday, Lehtimäki cited the nightly messages he described as “too friendly” as the reason for the warning.
According to Sport’s data, the target persons have been in contact with Lehtimäki purely at work. Improper use has occurred over several years.
– Strict non-disclosure agreements have been made on this issue and its details, but I can open this far. There has been no such thing, Vapaavuori replied.
According to information received by Urheilu, physical harassment has also been revealed in the investigation of Lehtimäki’s misuse.
In connection with the inappropriate behavior, Lehtimäki has, according to the reports, raised the possibility of influencing the person’s career. According to sources, when Lehtimäki has not resonated with his approaches, his attitude towards the person has changed completely. After the incidents, Lehtimäki has belittled the person professionally in various contexts.
The Olympic Committee has repeatedly reported that the process or sanction has not been communicated at the request of the victims of the misconduct. According to Sport’s information, no such request has been made and no non-disclosure agreement has been reached.
According to Sport’s data, Vapaavuori has been informed of the sites’ wishes over the weekend that the incorrect information presented about the case will be corrected.
Jan Vapaavuori, you have said in public that there was no physical harm in the Lehtimäki case. According to Sport’s data, physical harassment has also been revealed in the investigation of misuse. How do you comment?
– By the way, I could not comment at all, but since Lehtimäki himself has said that he has received a warning about inappropriate behavior, I can only confirm this. When a warning is given about inappropriate behavior and not sexual harassment, it can be concluded on this basis that there is no physical harassment.
The Olympic Committee has repeatedly signaled, including through the chairman, that the process or sanction will not be made public at the request of those who have been the subject of misconduct. According to Sport, there is no such non-disclosure agreement and the victims have not had such a wish, how do you respond?
– I do not have exact information about what the victims and Lehtimäki have agreed with each other. Regardless, the employer cannot comment on matters related to the employment relationship.
According to Sport’s data, you have been informed of the objects’ wishes over the weekend that the incorrect information provided about the case will be corrected. How do you comment?
– It is true that I have been informed that the subjects have experienced that some of the allegations in public are not entirely true. I have communicated that I do not understand to what extent they should be corrected. I wish the items could be in direct contact with me. Personally, I don’t even know who the people are.
Sport reached Mika Lehtimäki on Tuesday, who did not want to comment on the matter.
In the video below, you can watch the full press conference on Monday.