Sports and politics united Ilkka Kanerva and Kalervo Kummola.
The great athlete Ilkka Kanerva slept away. Pete Anikari
The Coalition Party announced late Thursday night that Ilkka Kanerva, 74, had died of a serious illness.
In addition to politics, Kanerva also worked long hours on the sports fields.
Many old acquaintances missed an open person.
– The news of his departure was a shock, even though I knew he was seriously ill. I believed that Ike as a fighter would survive it, says Kalervo Kummola in a quiet voice.
– Yes, Ike was a thoroughbred athlete.
Meeting in Turku
Kanerva and Kummola met exactly 50 years ago.
– In 1972, it was introduced. Ike’s cousin was our close family friend. He then invited us to the village at the same time. This happened in Turku, Kummola recalls.
The duo soon cooperated.
– In 1975, I was involved in Ike’s election campaign. I raised money for it. He then got into parliament.
Athlete
Kanerva was a long-standing activist in several different instances of the sports world.
– Athletics in particular was close to his heart, Kummola says.
Among other things, Kanerva was the Vice-Chairman of the Finnish Olympic Committee from 1993 to 2008 and chaired the Organizing Committee of the 2005 World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki.
At the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, Kanerva led the Finnish team.
– There he was one of the athletes at the Olympics. He did not stand above the others. Ike was an approachable person, Kummola says.
Kanerva was a member of the board of the International Federation of Athletics from 2003 to 2011.
And much more.
Politics would have needed
Kalervo Kummola met Ilkka Kanerva 50 years ago. PASSI FLAME
The Coalition duo kept in regular contact in various ways.
– No matter how many good memories. We had a joint boat trip in the summer for probably 25 years from Turku. Pertti Kuismasen the boat went. We were at sea for two days. That was always to be expected.
Kummola also wants to say a few words about politics.
– On the political side, he would have been needed now. Iki had the very skills of Parliament in foreign and defense policy. Huge experience. We often had long discussions on foreign policy.
In June, one is gone
A couple of weeks ago, President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö awarded Kanerva a great cross of merit in sports culture and sports.
– It is the highest you can get in sports, Kummola reminds.
Kummola, who did a long day’s work in sports himself, would have stories and stories about how many times his friend would.
One more thing Kale wants to bring up.
– The Olympic Winners Association invited us as honorary members here after the Beijing Olympics. That was a big deal for Ike. We were supposed to meet in June at the Paavo Nurmi Games.
– And so sure we will. But one is out of the crowd. On that occasion, Ike will definitely be remembered, says Kummola, and after that he wants to retire to his family to spend Easter.