Over the course of two and a half weeks, things happened in and around the World Cup that are worth stopping to think about, writes journalist Jussi Paasi.
Jussi Paasi Sports reporter
The Ice Hockey World Cup ended on Sunday with Canada’s victory. During two and a half weeks in Tampere, we experienced things that I believe each of us can learn something from. Here are a few of them.
Let’s start with the positive lessons.
Believing in dreams.
Before the start of the World Cup, who would have thought that Germany and Latvia would play in the top four? Not exactly anyone.
But that’s the only way both teams go home from the tournament with medals around their necks.
Pursuing dreams and believing in them is worth it. Just ask the German assistant coach Pekka from Kangasalusta or from a Latvian team colleague From Petteri Nummelin.
Latvia won its first medal in ice hockey. Germany was in the World Cup final for the second time. 93 years had passed since the previous one.
Heart in the game.
Latvian hockey fans saved Tampere’s competitive atmosphere. They reminded in a wonderful way what a true, heartfelt supporter culture means.
Thousands of Latvians poured into the arena and put on a show, first in the semifinals and then in the bronze medal match, that no one present will forget.
They were loud, good-natured, polite, happy – and every supporter’s heart beat passionately for their team every single second.
The sincere joy and overflowing emotion that erupted from the Latvians when the medal was secured was breathtakingly beautiful.
Nationalism, in the most positive sense of the word. That was about it. Not against anyone, but for myself.
Everything has its time.
The incredible streak of success of the Finnish national ice hockey team was broken. Yes, I’m counting the Lions’ fall in the quarterfinals as positive lessons here. Many parties can learn from Finland’s fall.
Before the start of the games, Leijoni’s gold – or at least a place in the finals – was considered almost certain. Many people forgot how much the fairytale success of Finland in recent years has depended on small things.
That’s how it is in this tournament every spring. In the World Cup, one match practically decides the fate of the tournament.
The lions’ breathtaking winning streak made puck-crazy people imagine that Finland wins every spring. A year from now, at the beginning of May, you can put ice in your hat.
Of course, breaking a pipe also gives you a lesson Jukka Jalonen for the team he leads. For several years, Finland had a game-standard advantage over others created by Jalonen. Is no longer. It forces renewal. And that can be considered a very good lesson.
Then the World Cup offers to learn about the things you shouldn’t focus on in life.
Greed.
We know the end of the greedy. However, the Ice Hockey Federation doesn’t seem to know that. The prices of the entrance tickets exceeded the limits of the tolerance of an ordinary wage earner. The stands were mostly filled with corporate sales at the Lions’ games.
The mood was accordingly. They did not want to create even a small fan audience in the arena.
And when Finland didn’t make it to the medal games, it showed as empty seats in the semifinals and even in the final. Something is seriously wrong when the grandstand cannot be filled for the climax of the World Cup tournament.
Ice hockey World Cup home games were made a privilege for the well-to-do.
Harming another person.
Canadian forward Joe Veleno was responsible for the most outrageous trick of the games. Velano intentionally rode Switzerland with his skates By Nino Niederreiter foot.
Fortunately, the disciplinarians of the International Ice Hockey Federation were awake and suspended Velano for five games. That was the end of the Canadian striker’s games.
The act was exceptionally brutal. It was positive, however, that the WC tournament was overall a neat and orderly event on the rink.
Arrogance.
Just when the games started, it came to light that the Ice Hockey Association’s blunt actions in suspected cases of racism and their subsequent investigation.
Puffiness and arrogance were underlined with a thick marker. The leadership of Finland’s biggest and greatest sport apparently thinks that the equality commissioner’s statements and reconciliation proposals are not related to their activities.
This doctrine is worth remembering by everyone – also outside the office of the Ice Hockey Federation. None of us is above common standards.
The same rules apply to everyone. Just like in hockey.