The Jukola Relay message was dedicated to the hundred-year-old Finnish Student Sports Federation

“With the Jukola relay message, Kaukametsäläiset want to greet a topical organisation or highlight a topic which they consider to be important. This year it immediately felt like the right choice to dedicate this message to the Finnish Student Sports Federation”, says Kaukametsäläiset ry’s President Juhani Sihvonen, who was involved with OLL as a student.

OLL is known as the lobbying organisation for student and university sports, and its work widely promotes both students’ opportunities for exercise and sports and everyday physical activity and general wellbeing in the higher education environment through exercise. The theme for the Federation’s centenary is Towards a university on the move.

“We are very touched that the organisers of the Jukola Relay want to dedicate their message to our Federation. We would also like to thank the organisers and our fellow orienteerers for the fantastic atmosphere at the Jukola Relay, which we were able to enjoy this year through our own OLL orienteering team”, OLL’s President Mio Kortelainen says.

The Federation is expanding its membership base

OLL’s work focuses on lobbying and advocacy work which improves the conditions for exercise on an international, national and university level. Examples of things that have been achieved through the work of the Federation include the legal requirement to offer sports services at all universities, and the national recommendations for university sports. The Finnish Government’s programme Suomi liikkeelle ("Finland on the move") also contains many measures and funding which the Federation has long been pushing for.

OLL’s membership base is made up of student unions and university sports services. OLL now wants to strengthen the Federation by also inviting universities to become ordinary members of the Federation in its new strategy.

“Together we can achieve more, and that is why we also need to bring on board the entire university communities to increase the physical activity at universities. By joining the umbrella organisation for university sports, universities can play a real part in building effective student wellbeing which is based on research data. Welcome to the Federation!” says the Federation’s Secretary General Niko Peltokangas.

JUKOLA MESSAGE 2024

The Finnish Student Sports Federation emphasizes the importance of physical activity, well-being, and everyday activity in its operations. The goal is for students to engage in sufficient physical activity for their well-being and health.

Aleksis Kivi's novel "Seven Brothers" is a coming-of-age story for young men. The brothers realize the importance of education, it is all about learning to read. The Finnish national author is speaking through Aapo's mouth with these words: ”Let´s get to work, send to Hämeenlinna for a-b-c books and go to the hymnleader´s school, as was our Vicar´s order”.

The Finnish Student Sports Federation is now celebrating the 100-year history of student sports. As we have carried our message across the plains on Kakkurinneva and Majakalliot on a dim summer night, we congratulate and thank the celebrating federation for their long-term efforts in nurturing young people into an active lifestyle.

In Kauhava on June 16, 2024

The orienteers of Lakia-Jukola

Read more about the world's biggest orienteering relay event on Lakia-Jukolas webbsida.