SUL made millions of losses from the Games – a surprising explanation from the boss

The Finnish Sports Federation has gone to apply for the 2030 European Athletics Championships, although the European home championships 12 years ago, which recorded huge losses, are still fresh in the memory.

At that time, the carnivals, organized with a budget of 15 million, turned millions into zero.

SUL CEO Harri Aalto dodges the question of what has been learned from the 2012 Games, and what the association plans to do differently now.

– If we don’t start putting individual euros in a bundle, then I think it would be important to understand the position of athletics. Society as a whole should see how important it is to have prestigious competitions at the Olympic Stadium, says Aalto.

According to Aalto, at the time, Finland did not understand what kind of pioneer Finland was when it started organizing the European Championships in the same year as the Olympics.

In his opinion, it was an excellent solution for European and Finnish athletics, but the timing of the games was strongly reflected in the public’s interest.

– We started 2012 well in advance because there is a bit of a negative atmosphere. It affected the entire advance event and advance ticket sales. I believe that we are now at completely different starting points.

Money returns

The budget for the European Championship will be determined in the next six months.

– Whether it’s 10 or 20 million – it will be clear during this trip, Aalto spins.

– If it seems absolutely impossible, then of course we don’t beat our heads against the wall, but raise our hands.

However, the CEO admits that the amount is probably closer to 20 million than 10 million, when already 12 years ago the budget was 15 million.

– Everyone understands that it will probably go up. At least the costs have not decreased.

The organizing country has to cover the TV costs and prize money of the games. The bonuses will be paid for the first time at the European Championships in Rome next summer.

– It will probably continue. If certain types of bonuses are put into value competitions, it will probably be quite difficult to back out of them, Aalto concludes.

Maybe not profit

The possible games in Helsinki are unlikely to be a huge money maker.

– I think it is premature to talk about production yet. But I personally represent the line that whenever competitions are organized, it would be nice if there was something under the line as a reward for the effort.

SUL made losses of 120,000 euros in the last fiscal year. In Aalto’s opinion, it has nothing to do with the European Championship application.

– They are two completely different things, he acknowledges.