China’s Paralympics are overshadowed by Russia’s war against Ukraine. In Finland, the sports movement for the disabled was born through war invalids.
Municipal councilor and champion of para-sports Pertti Sankilampi is a familiar sight on the ski slopes of Kempele in Köykkyr. The track has had time to think about how the world is going. He has been shocked by the start of the Beijing Winter Paralympics.
UN Secretary – General António Guterres declared Olympic peace on 29 January. It is valid until March 20, seven days after the end of the Paralympics.
According to Sankilampi, the war is overshadowed by Russia’s war against Ukraine. The mind is apea because of the broken Olympic peace.
– The declaration of Olympic peace lasted for the Beijing Games. Now China has the Paralympics and there is no Olympic peace. It annoys me terribly, above all because I think about how the disabled sports business was born in Finland.
– It was born through the war invalids, that is, those who defended our independent homeland. They came wounded by the war and were ready to establish their own sports organization, the Sports Division of the Brotherhood of War Invalids in 1945, Sankilampi says.
The Finnish Sports Association for the Disabled was founded in 1964.
Pioneer’s first gold medal in para-sport will never be forgotten
This year marks the 46th anniversary of Pertti Sankilampi winning his first gold medal in skiing. They were the first ever Winter Paralympics in Örnsköldvik, Sweden.
Bone cancer, and with it thigh amputation in 1966, changed the plans of a promising skier. The goal had been at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble, but the skiing career continued with para-sports.
The most shocking moment of his career is that in 1976, with the triumph of the Finns, they won a gold medal from the King of Sweden. Silver skiers Otto Malkki and bronze Tauno Seppänen.
– King Charles XVI of Gustav as patron of the Games hung the medals around our necks for the trio. When the blue cross flags rose in the portfolio and the song Our Land played, it was an atmospheric moment.
– I emphasize that the atmosphere was added by the fact that the second and third, ie the war invalids Malkki and Seppänen, were two sides of me on the podium. It was such a moment that it will never be forgotten, says Sankilampi.
The prestige of para-sports has risen
Sankilampi, which has been influential in local politics and organizational life for decades, has noted with satisfaction the improvement in the position of para-athletes. The competition and training conditions are fine. The title of Athlete of the Year 2016 went to the para-athlete for the first time.
– Para-athletes are really valued in our country. It is shown that Leo-Pekka from the Star became Athlete of the Year. The results of a para-athlete can already be quoted and adjusted so that injury is not an obstacle even to top results, says Sankilampi.
Sankilampi, 76, is still in good shape, thanks to exercise and sports. Even this winter, he has already skied 1,500 kilometers. According to Sankilampi, it is a normal amount at this stage of winter.
– The spark of exercise as a child has kept my mind fresh, even though there have been adversities over the years, says Sankilampi and continues back to the ski slope.
You will be able to discuss the subject until 11 pm on 5 March.