Finnish athletics federation The Finnish athletics federation got a new chairman on Saturday, when Riikka Pakarinen41, was chosen for the position as the first woman.
Pakarinen was an endurance runner in his sports career. He has been a member of SUL’s board for four years and three years as vice-chairman. Pakarinen has experience in the position of chairman since December, when he replaced the ex-chairman who was on sick leave Same Itania as acting chairman.
Finnish athletics has been on a strong rise in recent years. A visible example of this is the value competition success.
In the European Championships held two years ago, Finnish general athletes received a total of three medals. Last summer, a six-year streak without a medal at the outdoor track competition level ended with a crash, when Wilma Murto and Top Raitanen achieved gold, Kristiina Mäkelä silver as well Lassi Etelätalo bronze.
A month ago Murto and Reetta Hurske are celebrating the European indoor track championships. There is also a lot of scope behind the top, and there has been a lot of success at the youth competition level as well.
Financial issue: “Last year was alarming”
Although the situation in sports is the best for a long time, the good boom has not been reflected financially. The sports association’s previous fiscal year went into the red by 120,000 euros, even though SUL organized a usually profitable match against Sweden at the Olympic Stadium last summer.
In order to be successful in the future as well, the basis must be a healthy economy, Pakarinen says.
– We must be able to ensure that the Sports Federation’s finances continue to do well. Last year was alarming for us, when we made a negative result. In this difficult social situation, attention must be paid to this in particular. We have to cooperate well with the private sector, but of course we also have to do our part in public distribution of money, says Pakarinen.
After the 2012 European Championships in Helsinki, the Finnish sports federation had big financial challenges for a long time. According to Pakarinen, the union’s finances are currently in a better balance.
– In recent years, the economy has been put in order very purposefully. Traditionally, the year we organize the Sweden match, we make a profit, now we made a loss. Of course, this has to be woken up. We need to create new forms of fundraising for sports, Pakarinen sees.
On Saturday, Pakarinen told the sports association’s federal council that he demands a change in the funding of sports. In Pakarinen’s opinion, at the moment, the state’s money for exercise and sports is scattered ineffectively. According to him, the distribution of money should be clearly focused on a few priority areas, just like elsewhere in the Nordic countries.
– I would like to see that the state funding for physical activity and sports would focus on two priorities in the future, for example, clubs and the development of club activities and supporting young people who are close to the top, Pakarinen said in SUL’s bulletin (you switch to another service).
Add more talented boys to athletics
SUL has invested a lot in elite sports in recent years. We will also aim for that in the future, but Pakarinen reminds that everything is based on good camaraderie.
He promised to visit several clubs to get to know their activities.
– I would personally see that in the next year and a half I will personally invest a lot in it. I go to the grassroots level, because that’s where the success comes from.
The new chairman is worried about Finnish men’s athletics. It is difficult to get boys into the sport and to keep them there.
For example, could retired hockey players bring relief to this challenge?
In the meeting of the Federal Council, Pakarinen’s theses, in addition to the economy, were the development of club activities, securing top sports success, opening cooperation with major sports such as football and ice hockey, and starting strategic work in athletics.
– We need more enthusiasts, especially boys. This is where cooperation between species plays an important role. There are many boys in ball sports and those sports are attractive. However, it is possible for us to attract 12–13-year-olds who might drop out of ball sports to athletics. There is a place for athletics.
On Itan’s line
Sami Itani, who served as the chairman of the Sports Association for almost four years, enjoyed great respect among athletes. Pakarinen does not intend to change the line of the previous chairman in a big way.
He especially praises Itani’s way of sports management.
– Absolutely, in that respect I want to continue on the same line. For open leadership.
As chairman, Itani encouraged the sports community to take a stand on social issues. Among other things, he criticized the International Olympic Committee in a rare, direct way for a sports director.
As acting chairman of SUL, Pakarinen has brought up many times the fact that Russian and Belarusian athletes should not be allowed on international sports fields because of the war of aggression that Russia started in Ukraine last year. In Pakarinen’s opinion, from a Russian point of view, it is state-funded elite sports, and the athletes would provide a propaganda stage in international competitions to Vladimir Putin.
– Athletics or sport itself is not a separate island. We also actively participate in other social discussions. I am certainly active in this as well.
Pakarinen has been strongly involved in politics. He is the vice-chairman of the center and was a candidate in the recently held parliamentary elections.
He is also the CEO of the Finnish startup community and a city councilor in Espoo.
– When I didn’t get elected in the parliamentary elections, I invest in business life in my day job, and the position of SUL’s chairman is a position of trust. Politics in this respect will take a backseat, said Pakarinen, who will continue on the city council.