Juha Mieto and Pertti Ukkola enjoy a beautiful Saturday in Lahti.
Pertti Ukkola and Juha Mieto enjoyed themselves at the Lahti ski sanctuary. Anssi Karjalainen
The sun shone from the almost cloudless sky to the Lahti ski sanctuary. Legends of Finnish sports Juha Mieto and Pertti Ukkola fully enjoy the atmosphere of the Salpausselä Games.
– Today we had the annual meeting of the Olympic Winners Association, where we blessed 25 new Olympic winners, Ukkola said.
Thus, with the Beijing Games, the number of members of the association increased significantly.
What better way to end the day watching the World Cup sprint.
– In the morning I left Kurika to drive at half past five. We were on time. There was no traffic jam, but it was slippery, Mieto said of the duo’s trip.
On Saturday, it was reported that the Russian emblems would not be on display in Salpausselä. The reason is the country’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. The decision came after the International Olympic Committee recommended avoiding Russian country codes.
Mieto, 72, and Ukkola, 71, had jointly decided that they wanted to respect the sporting event and would not take a stand on the war.
– It is already a piety that we should take a stand. But the unfortunate thing is, Mieto stressed.
– I say here that the removal of country codes is also a piety, Ukkola said.
However, Mildo had a strong word in support of Russian athletes.
– I am such a person and a former athlete that it is useless to boycott these Russian athletes in any way. They are people in it like we are.
Mild concentration also remained in skiing during his own career.
– The gentlemen did not comment at that time. Of course, there was a calmer time then, although a clear curtain existed between East and West – the GDR, among other things. But there was a fight on the track, and Pertti wrestled.