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The story of 150 years of sports and physical activities in Finland has been fitted into ten two-page magazine spreads with images embedded in the nation's history. The tale has been assembled from the comments of experts, organisational activists, and influential individuals in the world of sports.
The Finnish story of sports and physical activities came together in 2003 as a group effort under Ms Eila Ruuskanen-Himma's direction, director of communications at the Finnish Sports Federation. The tale has been told by FSF's Communications Committee and a so-called story working group consisting of Juha Heikkala, Ph.D.; Pekka Honkanen, director of the Sports Museum of Finland; Leena Laine, president of the Finnish Society for Sports History; and Markku Pullinen, director of the Finnish Rules Baseball Association, in addition to Ms Ruuskanen-Himma.
"The point of departure for 'The Finnish Story of sports and physical activities' was the need to understand physical activities and sports as a whole, and their relationship to the society in different eras," Ms Ruuskanen-Himma puts it.
Mutual understanding
The story's purpose has been to produce mutual understanding and a tool for the essential discussion regarding values in sports and physical activity.
"In order to recognize and comprehend the changes in society and culture in a broad enough perspective, it's important for those who take part in civic activity in sports and physical activities to consider how we've got here and why we are where we now are," Ms Ruuskanen-Himma says.
The working group wanted to unearth a story with many narrators, covering a century and a half - a story in which physical activities and sports are not understood simply through sports achievements or official organisational records.
A story without an end
The intent is for the story to live on even after its publication. "It can function for instance as a building block for the member organization's own stories, and as background material for the media," Ms Ruuskanen-Himma says. "Otherwise the public discussion of physical activities and sports will be awfully thin - lacking in vision. We've wanted to kindle the discussion of the values and meaning of voluntary work."
"The Finnish story of sports and physical activities" ends - for now - by pondering the generally recognised values of civic activity - helping and doing for others, togetherness, learning from others, fair play, and personal growth.
Timeline of Finnish sports and physical activities
1800s
The era of spontaneous civic activity
Popular forms of recreational sports culture flower. Strength contests, rock lifting, and parlour games bring people together on village streets and in farmhouse parlours. The organisation of sport begins.
1890-1919
From autonomy to independence - Sport organises
Finnish sport becomes a part of organized international competitive sport. The Stockholm Olympics mark the emergence of Finlandas an important sports country.
1920-1939
The young State - Sport as a source of national identity
A young nation needs Olympic achievements as a source of national identity. A women's identity is created in gymnasiums.
1940-1959
The reconstruction period - The Olympic display window
With the Olympics awarded to Helsinki, sport emerges as one factor unifying the country amid the tribulations that follow the war.
1960-1979
State-directed policy - Exercise becomes part of social policy
"The way to fitness" opens up. Working hours are reduced and leisure time increases. A nation in wind suits takes to the jogging paths.
1980-1989
The welfare-state's horn of plenty - In exercise, growth and differentiation
The spectrum of sport broadens. Services and practices become more diverse. The structure of sport is unable to respond to the changed demand.
1990-1999
European Finland– Physical activities in many markets
A European Finland lives in a globalized world. In sports the media markets expand; in exercise the service markets multiply.
2000-
Multicultural Finland- Many stories of physical activities
Physical activities are perhaps more diverse than ever before. Exercise has many different meanings. Activists with long-term commitment become rarer.
For further information: Eila Ruuskanen-Himma, Director of Communications,
Finnish Sports Federation, +358-400-770 949, eila.ruuskanen-himma@slu.fi
