Photo: Bildbyrån
There is a storm around the Finnish national ski team. The riders themselves will have to pay for travel and insurance this year.
Now Swedish William Poromaa is coming to their defense.
– It feels strange that such a large nation in this world should not be able to get it together better, he says to Expressen.
It will be a big difference for the Finnish superstars Kerttu Niskanen, Krista Pärmäkoski and Iivo Niskanen going forward. The Finnish Skiing Association’s finances are at rock bottom and the skiers themselves have to take on much greater responsibility this year.
Have to pay yourself
Expressen writes that the Finnish Skiing Association showed negative results already this spring. They had made a loss of 20 million kroner, although they were aiming for two million kroner in profit. Since then it has only gone downhill. The CEO Ismo Hämäläinen had to leave the association, all coaches in ski jumping and Nordic combination also had to leave and the future of the entire skiing association was uncertain.
Now it is clear that cross-country skiers are also affected. The high-altitude camp has been cancelled, the skiers will be forced to pay for travel themselves and, in addition, a price tag of SEK 5,000 will be added every World Cup weekend as the excess in their insurances must be financed. A sponsor has stepped in and covered some costs during the premiere weekend at the end of November, but then it is up to the riders themselves to finance their competition.
READ MORE: William Poromaa’s unexpected text message to the family – after the picture from his father: “Bastards”
“Of course all riders are angry. Why wouldn’t you be if you have to pay to go to work? The economic crisis has been brought about by lousy leadership. The former board member Markku Haapasalmi and above all former CEO Ismo Hämäläinen was miserable about the financial part,” writes Iltalehti’s columnist Santtu Silvennoinen according to Expressen.
Poromaa’s words about the crisis
One person who does not like the development at all is a Swede William Poromaa23, who is disappointed and upset when he hears how bad it is for the Finnish competitors. He is happy that it works much better here at home in Sweden.
– It is sad that it has to be like this in Finland. I really hope they can change that. It feels strange that such a large nation in this world should not be able to get it together better, he tells Expressen and continues:
– Yes, we have a very good time in the Swedish team. Everything works well and it is professionally managed. You have to be grateful for that.
READ MORE: William Poromaa’s response after the unexpected words from rival Johannes Hösflot Kläbo – reveals the plan for the winter WC: “Not lying on the sofa”
Of course, this doesn’t sound good. Really hard for our neighbors to the east. Fortunately, the Swedes have a handle on their pieces and get good help from the association.
What do you think about the new ski season? Who will be this year’s exclamation mark? Feel free to comment on Facebook!
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