OLL becomes Member of Finnish NOC

Team Finland, bronze medallist at the inaugural Women’s Ice Hockey tournament at the 2009 WU in Harbin, China

HELSINKI – The Finnish Olympic Committee said yes to the application of the Finnish Student Sports Federation (OLL) for its membership. The historical decision was made in November 15th by the council of the Finnish Olympic Committee. As a member of FISU recognized by the International Olympic Committee, the Finnish Student Sports Federation meets the criteria set for the membership of the NOC. The decision was also justified by the determined work that the Finnish Student Sports Federation has done for the progress of elite sport in Finland as a responsible body for Finnish participation in the Summer and Winter Universiades as well as the World University Championships.

Hilkka Laitinen, the Secretary-General of the Finnish Student Sports Federation, was happy after receiving the good news: “This is a significant acknowledgement for Finnish student sports. The high level international university sport events offer a great opportunity for the young and talented student-athletes on their way to the world elite. There is still a lot of work to be done in order to get more and more people in Finland convinced of this fact. Another affair we are committed to work for is to improve the preconditions of the student-athletes to carry on successfully their dual career.”

On a more practical level Finnish Student Sports Federation has already had a good co-operation with the National Olympic Committee for a longer time. The Finnish Olympic Committee has offered its support and expertise for the benefit of Finnish Universiade teams and many NOC representatives have visited the World University Games during the years.

(Source: Jukka Tirri, OLL Sports Director)