The World University Wrestling Championships organised in Kuortane from 2 to 7 October 2012 are participating in the clean sport campaign for international sports events. The Finnish Student Sports Federation (OLL) and the Championships were challenged to the campaign by the Olympic Qualification Tournament of Wrestling, organised in Finland in May. Approximately 300 participants from 30 countries are expected to compete on the wrestling mats of fair play in Kuortane.
Today, at the opening ceremony of the Championships in Kuortane, the President for Finnish Wrestling Federation Jukka Rauhala handed the golden baton of clean sport over to the President of Finnish Student Sports Federation Lotte Uutinen as a symbol of the fair play challenge.
– The World University Wrestling Championships require a lot of effort from the organisers and they are a significant display of the very active Finnish wrestling scene and a continuation to these long-time traditions. Some 300 athletes from 30 countries around the world are expected to participate in the Championships, which is the second top-class wrestling event in Finland this year, along with the Olympic Qualification Tournament organised in Vantaa in the spring. In this way, Kuortane Sports Resort and the Finnish Student Sports Federation (OLL), in co-operation with the Finnish Wrestling Federation, work actively for the principles of clean sport and fair play, says Antti Pekkala.
– I am eager and motivated to participate in these home championships, pursuing the first-ever World University Wrestling Championships medal won by a Finnish female athlete. I will also challenge all wrestlers, coaches, officials, referees and the entire Championships organisation to participate in FINADA’s Clean Win programme, says Sarianne Savola, a bronze medallist from the 2009 European Wrestling Championships who represents the sports club Lappajärven Veikot.
– Clean sport is a value to which we are committed. Last year, the Finnish teams for both the Winter and Summer Universiades signed the Clean Win petition and thus committed themselves to fair play. In the future, we also wish to promote responsible sport through our actions, so it is a great delight and honour to accept the golden baton, Lotte Uutinen comments.
The information desk for the Clean Win programme will be on-site in Kuortane on Thursday 4 October from 2 to 7 p.m. and on Friday 5 October from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. At the information desk, everyone can sign the grand petition on behalf of clean sport and athletes can test their knowledge in WADA’s Anti-Doping Quiz. You can win a brilliant golden drinking bottle as a prize.
The World University Wrestling Championships are part of the world championships series for 17–28-year-old students at higher educational institutions. The Championships are held every two years. Since 1962, the International University Sports Federation (FISU) has organised over 300 World University Championships in 51 countries for altogether 55,000 student athletes. Finnish participants in the World University Championships are nominated by OLL.
The fair play challenge campaign for international sports events organised in Finland is a part of the Clean Win programme. The golden baton challenges its receiver to promote clean sport and to commit to its values. The golden baton has already travelled around in Finland at the European Youth Olympic festival in 2009, the Floorball World Championships 2010, the World Synchronized Skating Championships and the Enduro World Championships in 2011 and the European Airgun Championships, WMA Indoor Championships and the Olympic Qualification Tournament of Wrestling in 2012.
The Clean Win programme, a joint endeavour of FINADA and Fazer, was launched in May 2008. It honours clean athletes and the values of fair play, putting the spotlight on athletes who play ethically, respecting their sport, their competitors and themselves. This programme invites Finnish sports fans, sporting organisations, the friends and supporters of athletes and athletes themselves to get involved in fair play. You can participate in the programme’s petition on behalf of clean sport at
http://www.puhtaastiparas.fi/.
Further information:
Susanna Sokka
FINADA – Information Manager
Mobile +358 (0)40 740 7477
Jukka Tirri
OLL – Sports Director
Mobile +358 (0)44 780 0213
Maarit Laitinen
World University Wrestling Championships – Secretary General
Mobile +358 (0)40 503 8545
Internet: http://www.wucwrestling2012.com/