Reactions Mustafe Muusen to the thank-you speech confirm that the selection of the Model of the Year went to the right address this year.
At the end of Muuse’s speech, the audience stood up and applauded the athlete for a long time. The speech was also well received on social media – people praised Muuse’s example, said it sent chills down their spines, and craved more similar speeches.
Politicians include the Minister of Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen (collective), Deputy Mayor of Helsinki Paavo Arhinmäki (left) and former Member of Parliament Joonas Könttä (center) praised the speech on social media.
– An incredibly great and important speech at the Sports Gala by Mustafe Muuse. Let’s all try to act accordingly, Arhinmäki stated.
Muuse’s strong presentation style and the fact that he delivered the speech without reading it from paper were also praised. Muuse spoke forcefully about, among other things, the importance of hobbies and education. About helping and supporting others and that sports should be possible for everyone.
– An incredible, important and emotional speech. Big role model, please, hurdler Lotta Harala comment on Instagram.
– A very important speech, wrote the snowboarder Enni Rukajärvi.
You can watch the Instagram video of Muuse’s speech, which has garnered a huge number of viewers’ reactions, below.
What made Muuse’s speech so successful?
Expert in public speaking and rhetoric Antti Mustakallio is not surprised by the reactions to Muuse’s speech. Mustakallio compares Muuse’s acceptance speech to an international gala speech.
– The speech was really well structured and delivered. Muuse presented the speech very sincerely and enthusiastically. The speech challenges the listener, whose big dreams may have been overshadowed by everyday life.
According to Mustakallio, the theme of the speech was successful – a dream of a better world, peace and equality.
– The theme was basically quite simple. In the speech, sport is a factor in achieving this better world. This kind of talk resonates because it’s almost certainly the wish of all people.
According to Mustakallio, Muuse’s careful preparation and self-confident and calm presentation style also appealed to the listeners.
– You could hear from the speech that he had practiced. People understand, at least subconsciously, that the speaker wanted to see trouble in front of them.
With practice, the speech becomes truly the speaker’s own and one feels that the words come from the speaker’s heart. The pace is calm and the emphasis is considered.
Personality appeals, as do three points
Muuse from Turku, who grew up in a family with a Somali background, added personal history to his speech, which, according to Mustakallio, makes the message even more personal.
– When I look back, I see a little boy who has had big dreams and still does, Muuse spoke.
According to Mustakallio, several rhetorical devices, such as initial repetition, juxtapositions and contrasts structure the speech effectively. Almost every sentence has some kind of linguistic feature that stimulates the listener’s brain.
– At the same time that the dividing lines between us and the world deepen, I dream that every child, every adult and young person feels that they are valuable.
– I know that sports have enormous power, but first we have to give everyone the opportunity to join in, Mustafe spoke.
President of the Republic by Alexander Stubb the three-point rule, which brought a special spotlight in the speeches he gave, can also be found in Muuse’s speech several times: “Every child, every adult and young person.” – – “Whether we are athletes, spectators or fellow travelers.”
I dreamed of a sport that is not just competition, but building bridges, supporting fellow human beings and creating hope.
Mustafa Muuse
You could see people in the audience who were moved already in the middle of the speech. Among the party crowd was, among others, a running legend Lasse Virén his wife Päivi Virénin with.
In his speech, Muuse referred to Virén’s legendary gold run at the 1972 Munich Olympics. The Finnish legend fell at 10,000 meters, but did not give up and eventually became the Olympic champion.
– When someone falls, like Virén, I hope that there are people around who are ready to lift him up. It’s not a competition for who judges the fastest, but who is ready to help first.
According to Mustakallio, the ending with a metaphor, i.e. a figurative expression: “who stretches out his hand to the fallen” is powerful and skillfully refers to Virén’s fall.
– This is a historical moment in Finnish sports, which the speaker shares with the audience. My own shared memory, where the speaker and the audience are together.
Corrected at 1:14 p.m.: Joonas Könttä is an ex-MP