Photo: Janina Pitkänen/ Sports Gala
The sports gala was held on Thursday 16.1. us again together in the Helsinki Ice Hall, where we got to experience emotional moments and once again give the sport the appreciation it deserves. The evening culminated in the Sportsman of the Year award given by the President of the Republic, Alexander Stubb, and Kari Linna, the President of the Sports Journalists Association, to hockey player Aleksander Barkov.
Sports people were together both in the Helsinki Ice Hall and in the home stands, as the Yle TV2 broadcast of the Sports Gala reached almost 1.3 million viewers.
The red carpet was already filled with sports stars and sports influencers from the beginning of the evening. As the media conducted interviews, the significance of the gala came to the fore among athletes and supporters. This year, both the Olympic and Paralympic teams were invited to the star-studded gala, but also the best of the sports, which were published on Monday, got their own moment in the most prestigious celebration of sports.
In the early evening, the new chairman of the Olympic Committee Petteri Kilpinen welcomed the sports people and brought greetings from the past sports year as well as the upcoming one. He reminded each of us to appreciate the work that the athlete and the background people do, regardless of whether the performance is rewarded with medals or prizes.
“The value of victory increases in proportion to disappointments. Every victory has been preceded by disappointments. The next time you think about what sport has given you, also think about what you can give to sport. Now is the time for change. If that change doesn’t come from us, then from whom, and if it doesn’t come now, then when?”
The Finnish Sports Hall of Fame and Elämänura awards honor our sports stars and our sports heritage.
Life career Uno was awarded as a sports and exercise influencer Anssi Rauramo. During more than half a century, Anssi Rauramo’s life and work career have combined top sport and exercise in a uniquely strong way and on many levels.
“I would never have imagined that I would still get something from sports. I have thought many times how I could have given more to the sport and now, however, this ends with a trophy like this”, described Rauramo on the gala stage.
The new Finnish Sports Hall of Fame members have already been announced Mikko Ilonen, Minna Kauppi, Tommi Mäkinen and Leo-Pekka Tähtias well as posthumously Rolf Haikkola was awarded at the gala evening. Haikkola’s award was received by his daughter Riitta Lönnbergson Roy Haikkolaas well as a running legend Lasse Virén.
Minna Kauppi, who was elevated to the gallery of Finnish sports, also highlighted the other side of success, failures and what we are like to each other as people. Feelings in those moments when you want to shine at your best, but you fail.
“I wouldn’t change any of my mistakes because I got what I deserved. But what I would change is if sometimes I haven’t always been at my best as a person. I may have said something bad to someone. I haven’t always been good at apologizing and those are the things I regret. With medals and success, an athlete gets on top of the nation’s closet, even here in the Hall of Fame. But the fact that you are a better person will carry you throughout your life. I encourage everyone to push themselves to the limit, to fight bloody, but I also encourage everyone to be human in sports.”
In his speech, rally driver Tommi Mäkinen, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame, thanked and highlighted the influence of the media on athletes and the stories behind successful people. At the same time, he surprised the audience by digging out the legendary 25-year-old “what” phone from his pocket, which he promised to take to the Sports and Exercise Cultural Center in Tahto.
“You are doing very important work. Without you, our work would be a lot less important,” said Mäkinen on the gala stage with his legendary phone in hand.
A speech that will live on in sports history
In the first moments of the live TV broadcast, we saw one of this year’s most memorable gala moments, which will surely remain in our sports history. Awarded as a role model Mustafa Muse the speech caused resounding applause and applause from the gala audience, and later the social media discussions went wild and praised the speech.
“It’s an incredibly great honor. When I look back on life, I see a young boy who had and still has big dreams. Like a pastor 60 years ago, I also dreamed of peace and equality. At the same time as the dividing lines deepen both here in Finland and in the world, I dream that every child, every adult and young person feels that they are valuable. Not despite being different, but precisely because of it. I dreamed of a sport that is not just about competition, but about building bridges, supporting people and creating hope. When someone falls like Lasse Viré in Munich, I hope that there are people around to reach out and lift him back to his feet. So that we don’t compete for who judges the fastest, but for who rushes to help first. I hope that every young person who is at a crossroads between good and evil, as I have been, would receive the same kind of support as I have received. Every young person would have books to read like I had. That hobby is not a privilege but a civil right, regardless of whether one was born in this country or came from somewhere else. I know that sport has a huge power, but first we have to give everyone a chance to get involved. Whether we are athletes, spectators or passers-by, every single one of us can be the one to extend a hand to the fallen.”
The first Rohkeus Uno in history was awarded at the sports gala
An ice hockey player was awarded Courage Uno Patrik Lainewho had already achieved great things in ice hockey at the age of 18. The first Rohkeus Uno in history was awarded to NHL star Patrik Lainee for his work to promote mental health. Laine has bravely opened up about her own mental health challenges and at the same time gave concrete advice to people in a similar situation.
The award was received on behalf of Patrik Laine by his childhood friend Aleksi Ojala.
Courage Uno is awarded to a person or entity that has done something exceptionally brave. The act can be directly from the sports field or near it. The essential thing about a brave act is that it adds something good to the world. Maybe a good mood, maybe something concretely good.
The votes of sports people and journalists were collected by Aleksander Barkov
As usual, the evening culminated with the announcement of the Most Exciting Sports Moment and the Athlete of the Year. This year, these Unos traveled to the same address when Alexander Barkov had moved the most in the public vote, as well as in the Sports Journalist Association’s Athlete of the Year vote. Barkov was unable to participate in the Sports Gala, but the audience received video greetings from the NHL star from the United States.
“It’s a really big honor to be chosen Sportsman of the Year, especially as the first hockey player in history to be in this prestigious group. There are so many top athletes in Finland right now, and throughout the ages there have been countless of them. This makes the recognition even more valuable and is one of the greatest achievements of my career. I am truly honored and grateful for this honor,” said Barkov in his greeting.
The athlete of the year award and Uno were received on behalf of Barkov by his first coach Timo Mäkinen.
Photo: Janina Pitkänen/ Sports Gala
All awarded at the Sports Gala:
State awards – Knights of the Finnish Lions: Anu Nieminen and Jarkko Nieminen
Sportsman of the year: Aleksander Barkov
The Most Exciting Sports Moment: Barkov lifts the Stanley Cup
Breakthrough: Nathalie Blomqvist
Model: Mustafe Muuse
Career: Anssi Rauramo
Courage: Patrik Laine
Finland’s most mobile municipality: Tampere
Finland’s Most Active Workplace: Kesko Oyj
Sports Club of the Year: Kajaani Gymnastics
Young athlete of the year: Minja Korhonen
Team of the year: The national team that made it to the Under-21 European Championships
Coach of the year: Tuomas Iisalo
Source: hymy.fi
