Basic training for board members in charge of sports at network meeting

The network meeting was opened by OLL President Martta Sopanen, who spoke on the impact that physical activity has on something that is the most important thing in many people’s lives – health. On the first day, around twenty participants met at hotel Arthur in the centre of Helsinki.

Martta Sopanen

The purpose of the first network meeting of the year is to give the board members in charge of sports a basic understanding of student sports advocacy work. One of the main topics of the first day was Senior Special Advisor for University Sport Jussi Ansala’s presentation on the history of student and university sports. He also covered the legislation and national recommendations which our work is based on.

During the first day, participants also got to familiarise themselves with the lobbying planned for 2026. Ansala and Vice President Matti Heikkilä introduced the audience to the plans for exercise promotion, and Events and training specialist Markku Rantahalvari explained what is coming up in student sports.

The presidents of the National Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences – SAMOK and the National Union of University Students in Finland SYL also visited the meeting to give a more extensive overview of student advocacy work. Helena Maijanen from SAMOK and Petra Pulli from SYL explained how the unions are preparing for the parliamentary election, where the student movement will campaign for issues such as improving the university system and guaranteeing a sufficient income for students.

Martta Sopanen with Petra Pulli (left) and Helena Maijanen.

In terms of sports policy, Head of Communications & International Affairs Niko Peltokangas completed the picture with a presentation on the sports themes of the election. He also introduced the participants to the higher education institution strategy funding, which the Ministry of Education and Culture is currently directing towards increasing active lifestyles.

The first day ended with a dinner and pub quiz at restaurant Myöhä.

Career stories in sports policy

The second day took the participants to the Olympic Stadium. The visit was hosted by Marjukka Mattila, Public Affairs Manager at the Finnish Olympic Committee, who spoke on current topics within sports policy. The advocacy work within the exercise and sports sector is based on things like the Measured Physical Functioning Index, developed by the UKK Institute. At a summit in January, all parliamentary parties pledged to increase the level of this index.

During the second day we also discussed what it is like to be in charge of sports in a student union. Mattila’s presentation acted as an introduction to the topic, as she spoke about her experiences as board member in charge of sports in the Student Union of the University of Jyväskylä and later President of OLL, and about her career in policy and lobbying.

OLL’s Advisors Anni Liina Ikonen and Niko Peltokangas described the varying sports-related roles of board members, which vary depending on the structures of the university and the focus of the organisation. Some of the elected officials and staff in charge of sports organise events and run training sessions, while others focus on municipal lobbying or on representing students in the wellbeing working groups at the university.

After the theory section we also heard practical examples when two student and sports activists described their journey. Atte Kolehmainen spoke of his journey from the board of the student union of Metropolia University of Applied Sciences to Vice President of OLL and a seat on the student committee of the European University Sports Association.

Kaisa Larjomaa, Head of Public Affairs at the Olympic Committee, described her international career in sports. An alumna of the University of Tampere and a former President of OLL, Larjomaa emphasised that student activities had given her experience that was valuable in the advocacy work she did later in her career.

The basic training ended with a lunch in an inspired atmosphere.