Ida Hulkko knocked out the award she received – Now the Association of Sports Journalists reacts

In her opinion, Ida Hulkko would not have deserved the title of the best in her sport. EPA / AOP

The Association of Sports Journalists has reacted to the uproar that arose when the best swimmer of the year was chosen in the Best Athletes of the Sports 2023 list Ida Hulkko announced that he didn’t think he deserved the title.

In Hulko’s opinion, the choice would have been correct Veera Kivirinna. Hulkko has received support for his vision from people of the species.

Chairman of the Association of Sports Journalists Kari Linna says that the Athlete of the Year committee responsible for selecting the best of the sports has been convened.

– I have asked to verify the matter. The criticism was so strong that it was justified to accept that even the alternative is realism, that childhood has happened to us. I wanted to rule that out. This work is now the best time in the process, says Linna.

So the Sportsman of the Year committee will once again review whether there were grounds for Hulko’s selection. In principle, it is possible that the selection will be changed, but the title might just as well stay with Hulko.

– If the choice happens to be a mistake or a misunderstanding, there must be an option to take a step back and admit the mistake, says Linna.

The choice is not changed on light grounds.

– It is very difficult to change a choice once it has been made. It’s quite a different thing than if an incorrect news story is made. Then a correction is made and a time stamp is put on the correction.

The committee of the Federation of Sports Journalists named the sport the best in 82 sports. In a recent discussion, some have thought about how thoroughly the committee goes into each selection.

According to Linna, it is a matter of honor for the committee to make the selections as well as possible.

– I myself have been a committee member and chairman in previous years. I know that under no circumstances should those (choices) be made with the left hand or in haste.

He first told about the reconsideration of Hulko’s selection Helsingin sanomat newspaper.