A large number of sports crowds visited Ilkka Kanerva in memory on Tuesday.
Lasse Virén (second left) was one of the former athletes who honored the memory of Ilkka Kanerva. PNG
On Tuesday, a busload of sports people left Turku for Uusikaupunki towards Lokalahti Cemetery.
The party went to silence Finland’s longest-serving Member of Parliament and steadfast athlete, who died in April, Ilkka Kanervanto the grave.
Several Olympic winners went to honor Kanerva, including a four-time gold medalist Lasse Virén. Sports directors from Turku and the people of the Finnish Sports Confederation also boarded the bus.
– This was an initiative from SUL actors. More people gathered in southwestern Finland. The topic was not the most pleasant, but this was our way of praising Ike, CEO of Paavo Nurmi Games Jari Salonen said.
Juhani Tamminen was also remembering Ilkka Kanerva. PNG
Yearning
Ilkka Kanerva slept away at the age of 74. Pete Anikari
Heather died of a serious illness at the age of 74.
The information was a shock to Salonen. The duo has known since the 1980s.
– I just have warm memories of him. Ike has always been the heiress of a positive sports leader. He knew everyone, greeted everyone, and was encouraging.
– I do not remember that in his own words he would have been “tilting his helmet” very often. He had a positive angle on every thing, whether it was heavier or not. Iken could always be trusted.
Heather was involved in many things. At Paavo Nurmi Games, he served as Chairman of the Board.
Salonen moved while talking about the Member of Parliament.
– It would have been great to take the Paavo project with Ike until the end of the 2020s. We would have had a lot to do together. We miss him so much.
Jari Salonen knew Ilkka Kanerva for decades. Antti Nikkanen
Kanerva was born in the municipality of Lokalahti on January 28, 1948. He practiced athletics in the ranks of Leisku in Lokalahti.
He was later involved in many sports. Kanerva served as SUL’s Federal Commissioner, Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Association.
Konkari was also the Vice Chairman of the Finnish Olympic Committee and a member of the Board of the International Federation of Athletics.
According to Iltalehti, Kanerva’s funeral was small-scale at his own request. Only the people closest to Kanerva were present.