Matti Heikkinen, head of the elite sports unit, states that Finnish sports are in a transition phase, but also a pioneer.
Director of the elite sports unit of the Olympic Committee Matti Heikkinen has been leading his unit from Norway for the past spring due to his wife’s researcher exchange. He takes advantage of the opportunity and follows the sports culture of Norway, which has recently dominated especially in winter sports.
In his speech at Helsinki’s Sporttitalo, Heikkinen pointed out that the decrease in people’s physical activity is also a topic of conversation in the fjords, and the aim is to increase physical activity through elite sports, especially among children and young people.
– Karrikoinen dares to say: the resources are different, the challenges are the same, Heikkinen compares the mobility situations in Finland and Norway.
Finland cannot respond on the track Johannes Kläbon or Johannes Bön up to speed, but the Olympic Committee believes that Finns are better at operating culture, responsibility and ethical sustainability.
The Olympic Committee made a decision to take a more decisive line in dealing with cases of harassment and to increase resources in investigating them.
– Sports success has been achieved in Norway, and it has produced pride. In the background of pride, it is important to take care of a smile and responsibility in the operating culture, which we, the Finns, are the happiest nation in the world, we have consciously set out to promote in top sports, Heikkinen elaborates.
– In terms of responsible operating culture and operating methods, I dare to claim that we are clearly ahead of the reference country in many respects. If the smile disappears, success is ultimately meaningless.
Where does the money come from?
Matti Heikkinen has closely followed the features of top sports in Norway. Henri Kärkkäinen
In its new Winter Sports enhancement support decision, the Olympic Committee emphasized the importance of coaching and experts in elite sports.
The shared pot was grown again. This year, the amount of intensification support was announced as 2.244 million euros, while last year it was 2.250 million. In addition to that, the Ministry of Education and Culture awarded sports grants for more than half a million euros. The last mentioned pot is allocated to expert knowledge.
Matti Heikkinen says that the amount was withdrawn normally considering the time. In particular, the summer 2024 Olympic Games had an effect in the background.
– The support decisions show that we are at the beginning of the Olympics. The World Ski Championships had a weak result and the Paris Olympics are coming. From these things, the whole is created, says Heikkinen.
There is no big rush in winter sports. For example, in cross-country skiing, next winter does not include the World Championships or the Olympics.
– In the winter sports, the second year of the Olympics is coming, and the aim is a long-term way of supporting towards Milano-Cortina 2026.
When asked about the adequacy of the pot distributed to winter sports, Heikkinen did not give a direct answer. It would be harder to distribute more money, but the top sports unit will have to wait to see where the government negotiations lead and what changes will take place in 2024, when additional subsidies based on Veikkaus’ profits are rolled out through the state budget.
– I would take into account all of Finland’s top sports. We are in a transition phase. Behind the big change is Veikkaus’ relationship with top sports funding.