If Finland wants to enter a relay team in the Nordic championships, the athletics association requires that each participant is responsible for a deductible of 400 euros. It has stirred up emotions in the men’s team.
In the athletics European Championships in the summer of 2024, Finland’s men have all the conditions to run in the final in the short relay.
The European Athletics Championships will take place on 7–12 June 2024 in Rome and the European Union has not yet issued the result limits. It is still clear that the relay team needs to pass the EC limit twice in order to participate.
The relay team has the opportunity to make its season debut in Copenhagen at the end of May when the Nordic championships are on the program. It still comes with an individual cost for the Finnish runners, more specifically a 400 euro deductible per participant.
Samuli Samuelsson is critical of the union’s decision not to cover the costs.
– It is unfortunate that I have to pay so that we can get to the European Athletics Championships. It is clear that the association does not think that the NM competition is important. They force us to pay 400 euros per person. I am extremely disappointed in the union’s actions, Samuelsson asserts.
Last year, Samuli Samuelsson set the Finnish record for 100 meters. Rekordtiden lyder 10,16.
Bild: Matti Raivio / All Over Press
Athletics, Swedish Championship, Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Samuli Samuelsson, 100 meter run
Samuelsson is at a training camp in Tenerife with other sprinters and says the issue has stirred emotions.
– Finnish sprint stands and falls with our personal financial investments. It feels sad. We want to make a bet on the relay because we have extremely good chances of achieving success in Europe.
For Samuelsson himself, the alternative is to instead compete individually during the NM weekend. In that case, he gets his costs covered and also the opportunity to run for prize money.
If someone chooses to stand over the relay in Copenhagen due to financial reasons, it has major consequences from a sporting perspective.
– Therefore, everyone must pull in the same direction and cough up the sum required to participate. The situation is unbelievable. I hope, of course, that the association will think about it so that we don’t have to bear the excess ourselves, says Samuelsson.
The association’s finances are under pressure
Harri Aalto, who is CEO of the Swedish Athletics Association, admits that the issue is difficult.
– I always understand the criticism when the athletes themselves are forced to open their wallets. At the same time, it is of the utmost importance that the association’s finances are balanced, says Aalto.
The Athletics Federation’s latest financial statements showed a loss of around 100,000 euros. Now Aalto still says that things are going “perfectly okay” financially.
Finland sent record-sized squads to last year’s EC and WC competitions and it was expensive for the federation. It is a strong contributing factor to the fact that deductibles are now on the back burner.
– Last year, the championship budget was approximately EUR 350,000 in the red. It was a conscious choice to bet on a large squad as the athletes delivered. We are sticking to that line this year, says Aalto.
– This year we have budgeted for a loss of 150,000 euros. But it is clear that we cannot have a deficit from year to year.
The article is a processed translation of Emma Hyyppä’s article Finland’s fastest man was outraged by the decision of the Sports Federation’s bosses – he has to pay hundreds of euros out of his own pocket for an important race trip for Yle Sports.
