The top names of the Finnish women’s national skiing team will be supported with large sums in the future, regardless of the skier’s wealth.
The Finnish Olympic Committee decided to distribute the largest subsidies to cross-country skiing and ice hockey in its decision to increase support. From the 2,244,000 euro cake of winter sports, both get 480,000 euro pieces.
Some of it is transferred by top athletes, such as Krista Pärmäkoski mixed Kerttu and Ivo My neck to the training process. Training enhancement support is also targeted at other national team skiers.
The Olympic Committee therefore distributes money to skiers for whom the need for it may not be great at the moment. For example, last winter’s Tour de Ski brought Kerttu Niskanen, who came second overall, 63,600 euros. In March, the cash reserves of Niskanen’s own company exceeded the million euro mark.
Top sports representative of the Olympic Committee Toni Roponen emphasizes that the granted grant money is aimed at securing the training of skiing elites for the next season and future prestigious competitions. The grants especially help the coaching to stay at the international level of requirements.
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Top sports manager Toni Roponen says that skiing will get a lot of support in the future as well. Pasi Liesimaa/IL
– For our part, we want to make sure that their coaches are able to coach professionally. We also want to ensure the training of the best and most successful athletes for Milano-Cortina, says Roponen, referring to the 2026 Olympics.
The support of Niskaste and Pärmäkoski, who was considering the continuation of his career, was clear in the Olympic Committee.
– These same athletes have brought us almost all the prestigious medals in recent years. They have earned it, when you think about the results in Beijing, for example.
In Roposen’s opinion, the pot received by cross-country skiing is sufficient. When the next Winter Olympics are three years away and there are no World Championships next winter, the Olympic Committee is currently investing in summer sports.
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Krista Pärmäkoski and Kerttu Niskanen, who are hugging in the photo, are among 17 skiers receiving enhancement support. Jussi Saarinen
– Cross-country skiing remains a top sport and will continue to receive significant support. It was a difficult year, but in the big picture we have a lot of potential athletes. Our task is also to look at things in a long-term direction and not purely at the results of one season. You also have to look behind the medal places.
At the beginning of May, Krista Pärmäkoski said that she will continue her wonderful skiing career at least through the 2023–2024 season. The news was received with joy in the Olympic Committee.
– Krista is a very good team player. With his own activities, he supports young people coming to the top of the world. It makes it easier for young people, when the greater pressure is still on Krista and Kertu, says Roponen.