Helsinki Pride Week culminated in the procession on Saturday.
Helsinki Pride Week culminated in a traditional procession on Saturday. Finnish sports were also more widely represented for the first time at the event.
The Finnish Olympic Committee respected the late hockey player Janne Puhakan Memory at the Pride event. The Olympic Committee had its own truck in the procession, followed by a sports walking block.
A musician and an expert of the Human Rights Association Tommy Lindgren says that the idea of the truck contributes to Puhaka himself.
– The idea is kind of her. He is one of those who got the idea to also need a sports truck.
Iltalehti reported earlier this week that Puhakka came up with the idea of a sports truck. The Olympic Committee reported that they had received an ex-hockey player’s idea after his death.
-The planning of this collaboration started with a message that was posthoused by Janne Puhaka: “I don’t know if it’s late, but should you collect sports clubs and organizations.” By this he referred to the Helsinki Pride procession, the Executive Director of the Helsinki Pride community Annu Kemppainen Open in the bulletin.
Janne Puhakka died as a victim of a homicide in October 2024. Pete anikari
Ex-spouse of Puhakka Rolf Nordmo He killed Puhaka in his own home at Henttaa, Espoo on October 13th.
According to Lindgren, Puhakka is not in the minds of people just because of his gloomy fate.
– Here is not so much to remember Janne’s tragic fate, but his work as a pioneer and his significant role in strengthening human rights in sports.
According to Lindgren, the work done by Puhaka for sexual and gender minorities was valuable.
-Janne himself did not feel that he could do it during his sports career. He only came out of the closet after his career and then did a huge job within sports.
– He influenced sports so that, in the future, those in the future of sexual and gender minorities would be in a different situation than he himself was during his career.
Lindgren is happy about how Puhakka has inspired people.
– I think it’s great that Janne was an enthusiast and a role model for this sport truck that is involved for the first time.
Lindgren says that there are about twenty sports organizations this year.
– I am happy and proud that Finnish sports organizations have left here under the leadership of the Olympic Committee.
– Together we want to take this message forward.