Gold glitters at Aulanko on Saturday as Aulanko Power Weekend accepts the Golden Baton of Clean Sport. It signifies that the event is strongly committed to antidoping work – for the first time in the history of the sport.
The Strongman and Strongwoman World Champion titles are up for grabs at Aulanko on the 29 and 30 of August. Men and women will compete in eight weight classes and there will also be an invitation-based maximum bench press competition.
Today at the opening of the championships, Jari Rantapelkonen, secretary of the Finnish Powerlifting Federation, together with Antti Savolainen, World Champion in classic powerlifting, will hand the Golden Baton of Clean Sport to the powerlifters. In the past, the floorball, orienteering and ice hockey world championships, among others, have accepted the Golden Baton of Clean Sport in Finland.
“The Finnish Powerlifting Federation has had the privilege to be a messenger of clean sport after having accepted the baton from the Finnish Biathlon Association at the opening ceremony of classic powerlifting world championships in Salo last June. The Golden Baton will now continue its triumphant journey as it should. It is great that the message of clean sport is spreading among the different disciplines. We are honoured to hand over the Golden Baton to Heavy Events Association Finland,” says Jari Rantapelkonen, who delivered the baton to the representatives of the world championships.
“It is an honour to receive the Golden Baton. Heavy Events Association Finland is proud to be part of this tradition and, for its part, help to show young athletes that no matter what your discipline, you can always honour the principles of clean sport,” says Jyrki Rantanen, chairman of the World Heavy Events Association. Rantanen will accept the Baton together with Kirsi Järvi, recognised as the strongest woman in Finland.
FINADA’s Clean Win information stand at Aulanko will be open on Saturday, 29 August from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday, 30 August from 12 noon to 4 p.m. At the information stand you can vote for the winner of the fair play prize and see the clean sport poster signed by the athletes as well as learn about antidoping activities.
The Golden Baton of Clean Sport is part of the Clean Win programme to promote clean sport. Through this programme, many sporting events, athletes and sport-loving Finns have contributed to the promotion of fair play.
Further information
Susanna Sokka
FINADA Information Manager
Mobile +358 40 740 7477