Doing good with the help of sports
Winter sports events can have a positive influence on one’s health in many ways. A high-quality event means a successful day full of sports and hopefully a beloved hobby in everyday life. On top of that, Finlandia Ski Marathon, as well as other sports events, have the chance to do good in other ways as well. One example is taking local actors into consideration when organizing the event. For example Fazer, Finlandia Ski Marathon’s partner, is a big employer in the area with its bakery and shop. A local business, Tolvanen Oy, takes care of the lunch in Messukeskus. Local businesses are important to the area, and using local products is usually more ecological.
Different mass sports events engage local businesses and attract tourists. Major sports events and other events are vital for accommodation services, for example. Thousands of skiers yearly take part in Finlandia Ski Marathon, and many of them come from outside the city. Also, organizing Finlandia Ski Marathon offers valuable job experience in many fields. For example, students can complete study modules when they help organizing the event. Last year, many vocational school students and students of university of applied sciences helped with communication, construction, first aid and race office. The experience students gain in the event is important for working life, and Finlandia Ski Marathon offers a safe and meaningful community to many volunteers.
Finlandia Ski Marathon wants to share the joy of sports with younger generations as well. Skiers under the age of 16 have their own result sheet. Furthermore, a couple weeks before the official event, pupils in the Lahti region can take part in Kids’ Finlandia (Lasten Finlandia) without charge. An important actor promoting youth sports is Worldloppet Skiers Finland. The organization cooperates with Finlandia Ski Marathon, organizes events to promote Worldloppet events and does communication work. They are also actively involved in organizing Kids’ Finlandia.
Risto Laurila, an active member of Worldloppet Skiers Finland, says that supporting youth skiing has been a part of the organization from the very beginning.
“In the years before Kids’ Finlandia, local members of the organization paid the registration fee of two young skiers or coaches and other expenses. During the years, a couple of these young skiers have gotten into the national team”, Laurila explains.
Nowadays, the organization focuses mostly on Kids’ Finlandia. Members in the Lahti region have volunteered in the event as instructors, and Worldloppet Skiers Finland has supported the event financially.
Laurila says that he can’t stress enough the importance of diverse sports for youth as well as adults. “Oh the joy when children abandon their mobile phones and start moving. Kids’ Finlandia assembles children from many schools so that no one has to be alone”, he summarizes. The joy of the children, being in fresh air and helping young skiers has guaranteed that members of Worldloppet Skiers have only positive memories from Kids’ Finlandia.
On top of Worldloppet Skiers Finland, the event engages many other volunteers as well. The work starts as early as the previous fall, when the tracks are being prepared for the next year’s event. Before the race day, the volunteers build the service stations and are part of the marketing of the skiing event. During the race, they serve as first aid officers, bib distributors and have many other responsible tasks. In addition, Finlandia Ski Marathon enables fundraising for a wide range of local clubs and unions - for example, the service stations are maintained through organizations that promote free time activities for young people, and they get compensation for their work. Thanks to volunteers, Finlandia Ski Marathon offers an unforgettable experience for thousands of winter sport enthusiasts.
Also, Finlandia Ski Marathon is a way to raise funds for youth sports. Finlandia Ski Marathon is a non-profit organization, and two local ski clubs, Lahti Ski Club (Lahden Hiihtoseura) and Hollola Sport Club (Hollolan Urheilijat -46) are in charge of the event. These ski clubs organize the Ski Marathon from the route and service stations to the management and race office. The possible profits from Finlandia Ski Marathon go to these ski clubs, for example to support youth sports. These ski clubs are also responsible for the possible financial losses of the event. By taking part in Finlandia Ski Marathon you not only get a one-of-a-kind skiing experience but also support the local youth sports scene.
Read more about volunteers and supporting youth sports!
https://www.finlandiahiihto.fi/news/volunteers-build-finlandia-ski-marathon
This article is part of Finlandia Ski Marathon’s Behind the Scenes -series, which introduces the story and background of the skiing event. Building up some new structures, responsibility actions and a versatile network of partners are interwoven as themes in Finlandia Ski Marathon in 2024.
