Carrying the Finnish flag at the opening of the Olympic Games is an honorable task. Jouko Salomäki, Harri Koskela and Olli-Pekka Karjalainen recall what kind of experience it was.
Almost to the day 32 years ago, sports history was witnessed at the opening of the Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Previously, professional basketball players were not allowed to participate in the Olympic tournament.
In July 1992, the Finnish flag was carried at the opening ceremony by a wrestler from Lapua Harri Koskelawho remembers wondering why the flash lights were flashing around.
– It only dawned on me at the opening that these Yankees’ professionals are what they are portraying. It was quite an interesting situation. Tennis stars of the era Boris Becker and Steffi Graf they sat next to each other in the stands, he recalls.
Koskela’s best times as a wrestler were in the years 1987–1991. He won four medals in almost consecutive years: silver in the Greco-Roman wrestling 90-kilogram division at the Seoul Olympics in 1988. He thinks it was because of this success that he was asked to carry the flag.
– It was of course a great honor, says Koskela.
Ostrobothnian wrestlers were seen at the flag stand twice in a row. In Los Angeles, the person from Nurmo won gold in the 74-kilogram category Jouko Salomäki carried the flag at the Seoul Games in September 1988. Many people also remember Juha Miedon in the flagpole at the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics.
– I was at the closing ceremony in 1984 and the opening ceremony in 1988. Both were great things and it’s great to have experienced both. That atmosphere is fierce and great when the Olympics start. There are all kinds of programs and people are really waiting to get started, Salomäki recalls.
The Finnish Sports Federation announced on Thursday that shotgun shooters will carry the Finnish flag at Friday’s opening ceremony Eetu Kallioinen and sailor Sinem Kurtbay.
Koreas together
The opening of the Sydney Olympics was celebrated on September 15, 2000. At that time, the Finnish flag was carried by a young man, a shot putter who turned 20 that year Olli-Pekka Karjalainen. He recalls that he found the choice a bit surprising.
– Previously successful athletes had been asked to participate. That time, they wanted young equipment, which suited them very well, says Karjalainen.
In the early 2000s, the opening of the Summer Olympics was an even bigger public event. Karjalainen recalls that the broadcast was watched by hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide.
– I don’t remember that it was particularly exciting. The thing that I remember the most was coming to the stadium and saying the name. It was a sweet moment, of course. For a few seconds the face was on the screen. There’s nothing wrong with that, we went around and took the flag to its place.
According to Karjalainen’s memories, the Sydney opening was also associated with extraordinary history.
– I remember that South and North Korea marched into the arena as a united team, so of course it was a historic moment. Another thing was that the Cuban flag was carried by a boxer Félix Savón. It attracted attention.
Medal expectations
Both Koskela and Karjalainen represented Finland at the Summer Olympics three times. Both are satisfied with their experiences, although there were also some disappointments. Karjalainen’s first Olympic career in Sydney ended with qualification, and Koskela had to be disappointed in Barcelona and four years later in Atlanta.
– I am satisfied that in Beijing 2008 I made my best throw of the season. It took sixth place, says Karjalainen, who became the EC gold medalist in the last train.
Both men say that they are following the Summer Olympics in Paris with enthusiasm. There are also medal expectations. To make sure, Koskela says that he will go to the place to watch the wrestlers’ moves in particular.
– On August 4, we leave for France and the trip lasts five days. Old wrestlers go there, among others Pertti of Ukkola, Grön’s Eikka and me too, he describes.
– There are medal expectations and both wrestlers can take a medal, explains Koskela Jonni Sarkkinen and Arvi Savolainen racing contract.