Hurdle runner Viivi Lehikoinen said at the beginning of the week that he would skip the Sweden match and head to China. The matter is complicated by the fact that the national match is a competition required by SUL’s athlete contract.
Athletics Sweden-Finland match on channels on Saturday and Sunday, September 2-3. See shipping information at this link.
Placed 11th in the 400-meter hurdles at the World Championships in Budapest Viivi Lehikoinen misses the competitive match against Sweden next weekend and participates in the Diamond League competition organized in Xiamen, China. Due to the athlete contract of the Finnish Sports Confederation (SUL), the decision may be expensive for Lehikoinen.
Lehikoinen told about the beginning of the week on his Instagram account, that he puts his own career first at this stage. According to Lehikoinen’s Manager, the athlete will not comment on the incident beyond the social media publication.
– There is no problem with the matter and we are on good terms with the federation, stated the athlete’s manager Inka Kärkkäinen For Urheilu.
The coaching and camp subsidies paid within the scope of the athletes’ contract vary per athlete according to the athletes’ level and career stage. According to Urheilu’s data, the subsidies are at best up to twenty thousand euros. In exchange for the support, the athletes have representation obligations, such as competitions and other representation tasks.
The Sweden match is one of the events required by the athlete contract between SUL and the athletes.
Violation of the contract also has its consequences. According to Urheilu’s information, missing the Sweden match could result in several thousands of euros in sanctions for Lehikoinen. The sanction is determined according to the support paid to the athlete.
In the athlete’s balance are the fees paid for the Diamond League competitions. The athlete would get a little over 9,000 euros for the win, and about 5,500 euros for the second place.
SUL assures the importance of the Diamond League for Finnish athletics
The CEO of the sports association Harry Aalton in such cases, case-by-case judgment is used and efforts are made to resolve them in a good spirit. The goal of the association is to find solutions that serve athletes and Finnish athletics.
– Of course, we always hope that the athletes will participate in the games that have been jointly planned. But sometimes you have to use common sense in these. In recent years, very few of our athletes have been invited to the Diamond League. When the athletes are more successful, the invitations will come. Then the situation is completely different and things are discussed together.
Also the general manager of the Sports Federation Jani Tanskanen emphasized the importance of the Diamond League for Finnish athletics.
– Of course, the goal is that we have good athletes, which builds in everyday life and culminates in prestigious competitions. The Diamond League is the highest level outside of the prestigious competitions, and we haven’t had an awful lot of Finns there in recent years.
CEO Aalto assures that in case of overlapping schedules such as the Sweden match and the Chinese Diamond League, the association will consider a solution together with the athlete and his close circle.
Matter on the table after the season?
Athlete contracts are year-long and end with the competition season. The Sweden match is the last event of the season, after which next year’s athlete contracts will be on the table. According to Aalto, it is important that all matters are reviewed after the season.
– We don’t start thinking about these terribly during the competition season. After the competition season, we will consider what the situation is and whether we need to make changes to the contracts or solve things in a different way, Aalto commented.
According to Tanskanen, similar topics have already been discussed earlier in the summer.
– The athlete contract is not only a coaching contract, but there is much more to it. Yes, we need to have an overall discussion on a case-by-case basis, and we will certainly do so after the season in this case as well, Tanskanen says.
Both Aalto and Tanskanen emphasized case-by-case consideration and the importance of dialogue and the Diamond League. Based on the CEO’s and GM’s answers, it is therefore possible that SUL will not sanction Lehikoi. According to Aalto, athlete contracts are contracts between the athletes and the federation, and their exact contents are not made public.
Athletics Sweden-Finland match on channels on Saturday and Sunday, September 2-3. See shipping information at this link.