The management of the Olympic Committee was frustrated by the turmoil surrounding top sports director Mika Lehtimäki.
Jan Vapaavuori defended his work at the Olympic Committee’s discussion event. Jenni Gästgivar
A rather contentious congregation had gathered in Pitäjänmäki, Helsinki.
Management of the Olympic Committee, and Chairman Jan Vapaavuori that starting CEO in June Taina Susiluotogot to listen to their ears in red as the leaders of various sports federations swept the twists and turns of the spring saga.
Vapaavuori’s decision in particular obscures the top sports director Mika Lehtimäki receiving a warning and then rewarding the same man with an extension was for many too difficult an equation to understand.
– We hope you understand, because the protection of privacy in Finnish working life is so strict. It puts really strict demands on what can be said, Vapaavuori, who led the Olympic Committee with the basic training of a lawyer, defended.
The Free Mountain admitted that “moral judgment” had failed at least at some point, but he stressed that everything had happened in full compliance with the law.
Lack of trust
Chairman of the Senior Sports Director of Finland Birgitta Kervinen did not swallow Vapaavuori’s explanations.
– It is only right that we apologize for mistakes. But that doesn’t make all this invisible. These mistakes have led to a deepening of the problems of this organization, Kervinen began.
The story continues after the video.
The opportunity in the auditorium of Taitotalo was an informal moment of discussion, so the sports federations did not strive for any decision with their criticism. Its time is later this month, as the Olympic Committee wanted to bring an extraordinary meeting to the spring meeting already on the calendar.
Based on Monday’s first installment, a fierce balling is sure to come.
– At that meeting, the question is whether the board of the Olympic Committee enjoys the trust of all member organizations, Kervinen underlined.
Popcorns ready
Also chairman of the Badminton Association Tytti Saarinen addressed the leadership of the Olympic Committee. There is a presentation on the table in which its activities around the Lehtimäki case would be investigated by people who have very close relations with, for example, Chairman Vapaavuori.
– We certainly have different views on what independence means. In sports, we need to get rid of the fact that we don’t really recognize which situations make us disabled, Saarinen said.
– This is no astronomy. Independence is also what it looks like on the outside.
Vapaavuori listened kindly to the speeches, but it was clear that some of them had sunk badly under the skin.
– I hide in my heart everything that has been said here. However, I do not agree with the accusations that things that are required by law are concealed here. I do not really accept being incited to act illegally here. There is a limit, Vapaavuori said, already a little excited.
So it’s a good idea to book your popcorn by the last day of May. Then the sports organizations are also allowed to decide.
– It is good that the President says that this needs to be discussed. We can all agree on that. I, too, Janne, was supporting you in this task. I trusted and believed we were on the right track. Now I had to say that we are probably no longer on that path, Kervinen decided.