Harri Syväsalmi worked for ethical and clean sports.
Long-term sports influencer Harri Syväsalmi has died at the age of 71. About that announced The ethical center of Finnish sports, which Syväsalmi was involved in starting up. He also served as the organization’s general secretary 2016–2018.
Syväsalmi worked in positions of responsibility in sports for almost 50 years and is especially remembered for his work to promote clean and ethical sports.
Syväsalmi, who has a volleyball background, worked for e.g. as the manager of the competition village of the 1983 World Athletics Championships and in sports administration positions at the Ministry of Education and Culture.
Syväsalmi co-founded the International Anti-Doping Agency Wada and served as its first secretary-general in 2000–2003.
In the years 2011–2017, he developed an agreement against competition manipulation in the European Union and the Council of Europe.
After retiring, Syväsalmi worked in volleyball’s positions of trust and in an EU project that aims to strengthen the voice of athletes in sports administration.
In early 2024, Syväsalmi was awarded the Taustavoima award at the Sports Gala.
– This is a significant recognition for clean athletes and ethical sports. It has been wonderful to be involved in making sports even better and fairer both nationally and internationally. We don’t always do the same as we’ve done before, but we always strive to do better. The numerous encounters with different athletes and other sports players make the trip especially great, Syväsalmi said at the Gala.