The agreement strengthens cooperation between the city, the national federation and the club in a joint effort to enhance the competitiveness, visibility and international success of Finnish ski jumping and Nordic combined. It sets shared objectives for athlete development, improved training and competition conditions, and for reinforcing Lahti’s position as an international winter sports city. The agreement also supports preparations for the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2029, which will be hosted in Lahti.
– The Lahti Ski Jumping Centre is the heart of Finnish ski jumping and Nordic combined. This agreement strengthens Lahti’s role as a city of elite sport and major international events, while also supporting regional vitality, tourism and global visibility, says Niko Kyynäräinen, Mayor of Lahti.
Developing the Lahti Ski Jumping Centre for multi-purpose, year round use
The Lahti Ski Jumping Centre is Finland’s only ski jumping venue that meets international standards for hosting Nordic World Ski Championships. Under the agreement, it will serve as a national training centre for ski jumping and Nordic combined, jointly with Kuopio. The centres will operate as development environments for coaching, athlete training and research.
– Earlier this week, we announced the coaching staffs for the national teams in ski jumping and Nordic combined and stated that, alongside Kuopio, Lahti will serve as a daily training base for the national teams, with RDI activities also being built there. We now have a growth agreement with the City of Lahti and Lahti Ski Club that clearly expresses a shared ambition and a clear direction—something that has been much needed, says Petter Kukkonen, Director of Elite Sports of the Finnish Ski Association.
The long term goal is to develop Lahti into a modern, multi purpose and year round elite sports hub that meets future international requirements in both infrastructure and technology. At the same time, Lahti’s role will be strengthened as a centre for coaching expertise, performance development and testing in ski jumping and Nordic combined.
– For Lahti Ski Club, it is of great importance that the development of the Lahti training centre is now being actively taken forward. Our role is to safeguard the sport’s remarkable heritage, and we are fully committed to playing an active part in advancing ski jumping and Nordic combined in Lahti and across Finland, says Janne Marvaila, Executive Director of Lahti Ski Club.
– Success in ski jumping and Nordic combined requires top level training and competition conditions, a strong athlete pathway and close cooperation between partners. This growth agreement provides a solid foundation for achieving these goals, says Aleksi Nyström, Head of Sports for the City of Lahti.
Updated on 17 April with comments from the Finnish Ski Association and Lahti Ski Club.
Further information
Finnish Ski Association
Petter Kukkonen, Director of Elite Sports
Tel. +358 40 120 7772
Lahti Ski Club
Janne Marvaila, Executive Director
Tel. +358 40 060 0852
City of Lahti
Aleksi Nyström, Head of Sports
Tel. +358 44 483 1794