Fitness remains a competitive sport for those over the age of 16 in Finland.
Illustration. Pasi Murto / AOP
There was a recent uproar in Finland when Yle reportsthat the Finnish Fitness Association had started planning to organize fitness competitions for 12-year-old children.
The Finnish Olympic Committee expressed concern about the plans in its bulletin. Competing in fitness is currently allowed for those who are at least 16 years old.
The Finnish Fitness Association is now announcing that children will not have their own competition activities.
Chairman of the Sports Federation Kari-Pekka Ouraman according to the board’s decision was unanimous. In a press release, Ourama says the government was not informed until the matter was already in the public domain and that the project was only at the level of brainstorming.
– We received feedback from industry players, coaches and athletes. As a modern sports federation, we always treat the sound and feedback of the field with humility and service, Ourama says.
“We made the decision together”
Executive Director of Finnish Fitness Sports Ville Isola commented on the plans earlier in its own bulletin.
– I think the form of competition includes sporting elements that express speed, endurance, strength and skill. I see functional tracks and fitness-type activities of my own weight, where the target is high school students, ie 12–15-year-olds.
However, children’s fitness sports are not coming. According to the association’s bulletin, children will not have fitness activities “in any form”.
– This decision is not a motion of censure on Executive Director Ville Isola. We made the decision together. Our CEO does a rewarding job in the coaching training and competition activities of the sport, Ourama commented.