Vili Kaijansinkko has resigned from the position of director of sports activities of Suomen Purjehdus ja Veneily ry. He says in the release that the separation took place on his own initiative.
Mika Halonen,
Riikka Smolander-Slotte
Vili Kaijansinkko has resigned from his position as director of the sports activities of Suomen Purjehdus ja Veneily ry. The union will inform about it on their website.
– After Friday’s athlete meeting, I have thought about what is best for the team. I have especially thought about measures to build industrial peace and create the best possible conditions for the Paris Olympics. For this reason, on my initiative, it has been mutually agreed that I will leave my job immediately, Kaijansinkko says in the press release.
– We like the fact that Vili Kaijansinkko is now putting the interests of the athletes before everything else. We are now confirming the agreed steps towards Paris. We and our stakeholders have strong elite sports expertise with which we can secure the athletes’ preparation for the Olympics, the chairman of the federal government Jan Jansson comment.
Written warning
Earlier this week it was reported that Kaijansinkko had received a written warning. Suomen Purjehdus ja Veneily ry announced on Wednesday that it had received an occupational health and safety notice in September, and after investigations it had ended up giving a written warning to its director of sports operations.
The occupational health and safety notice had brought to the fore issues related to labor management and financial planning in Kaijansinko’s operations, which are not in accordance with the union’s values and policies. Chairman Jansson told Urheilu that the investigation report must be kept secret.
– For the sake of transparency, we decided to make the matter public right away, so that there is no need to make a big fuss about this after half a year, Jansson stated.
– I have received a written warning for my actions, I take it seriously and apologize. After humbly hearing the feedback, I commit to developing myself and my activities in the future, Kaijansinkko himself commented earlier this week.
Since 2018, Kaijansinkko has been the coaching manager of Suomen Purjehdus ja Veneily ry. In April of this year, he started as director of sports operations.
The Olympic Committee asked for an explanation
A year ago, sailing was chosen as the first summer Olympic sport to be included in the top sports support program. Sailing received an enhancement subsidy of 340,000 euros. Before sailing, the support program for top sports has included para-athletics from summer sports and ice hockey and cross-country skiing from winter sports.
Finland is expected to succeed in sailing at next summer’s Olympic Games in Paris. Sailing currently has two berths for the Games, Kaarle Tapper In ILCA 7 class as well Sinem Kurtbay and Central axis In the Nacra 17 class.
Last year, sailing received an enhancement subsidy of 280,000 euros, so the subsidy has increased. In total, sailing has been supported with almost one million euros. The support includes Olympic Committee support, enhancement support and general assistance from the Ministry of Education.
CEO of the Finnish Olympic Committee Taina Susiluoto told on Thursday that the Olympic Committee has made an inquiry request to Suomen Purjehdus ja Veneily ry about the association’s activities. Susiluoto said that he does not know more precisely what kind of activity the Sailing Association has been involved in or what the financial situation is in the association.
– When it comes to the top sport of elite sports, which this year receives around 340,000 euros, it is important that it is handled in accordance with our responsibility program, Susiluoto stated
According to the responsibility program of the Olympic Committee, financial management and fundraising must be responsible. The Olympic Committee wants to know if the Sailing Federation’s announcement about Kaijansinko’s warning is related to issues related to boost subsidies.
According to Susiluoto, the additional reports submitted by the sailing association will be processed in connection with the process of enhancing subsidies for top sports, where subsidies for the coming year will also be evaluated.