An extraordinary meeting of the Olympic Committee cleaned the air, and in an advisory vote of confidence, the Bureau of the Olympic Committee gained clear confidence.
Heikki Ali-Hokka,
Anu Karttunen
The membership of the Finnish Olympic Committee met in Helsinki on Monday for the annual meeting and the extraordinary meeting. An extraordinary meeting had been called for by 16 sports federations. The meeting included a critical, honest and open discussion on, among other things, the activities of the Olympic Committee Bureau and the impartial study commissioned by the Olympic Committee. Mika Lehtimäki case.
Lehtimäki was promoted to head of the top sports unit, despite a warning about inappropriate behavior against women. The Bureau had not informed the other members of the Board of this.
The meeting also held an advisory vote of confidence in the Bureau. The vote was by secret ballot with 72 votes in favor, 22 against and 7 abstentions.
Chairman Jan Vapaavuoren the result of the vote was very clear and he did not feel that his position was shaken.
– This vote of confidence was so clear, and it was still a closed ballot, that no one had to think about not being able to express their own opinion. The result was so clear that I think this matter is now over and we are moving forward, Vapaavuori said.
Critics have also given satisfaction with the result
The Badminton Association once proposed an extraordinary meeting. Chairman of the Federal Government Tytti Saarinen according to the extraordinary meeting it was worth holding.
– It was also stated at the meeting that change often needs a crisis. Maybe it’s been there now, but usually we get up from it, Saarinen said.
– The discussion at the meeting was really good, constructive and varied. I am really pleased that things have been looked through. Now there are the facts on which to base decisions. I feel that the air must have been cleansed. At least we are aware of how things have gone and we are not dependent on speculation.
The Sports Federation was also one of the 16 federations that called for an extraordinary meeting. Chairman Sami Itanin according to the evening’s conversation, the air was cleaned up, as things have been a lot of trouble lately. He did not see the vote of confidence as a click to the presidency, but it was an organizational democracy and an open culture.
– I am terribly pleased that this consultative vote was held and that the majority supported it. I think it is good for organizational democracy and for everyone that we now move forward together. The majority thinks and everyone will probably respect it now and in the future, Itani comments.
In Saarinen’s opinion, the result of the vote also indicated that there was some distrust of the presidency. However, with an open debate, trust can be restored.
– The trust of the majority is behind it and it is definitely a good end result.
Vapaavuori promised: all recommendations for action will be implemented
Jan Vapaavuori also praised the constructive discussion at the meeting, although he also heard criticism from it. The meeting reviewed an external study commissioned by the Olympic Committee on the administration’s activities.
Vapaavuori told the membership that the recommendations for action in the study were relevant and everything is being implemented.
– Yes, it is a promise, Vapaavuori assured.
– We have a new, busy CEO who has trained as a lawyer, who will start in office tomorrow. In addition, these recommendations for action are clearly identified and, for the most part, difficult to implement. They will just be implemented and taken differently.