Clubs – The Lifeblood of the sports community
Exercise and sports are not just leisure activities — they are an investment in health, well-being, and community. In Finland, approximately 1.8 million people are members of sports clubs, and about 60% of children and young people aged 9–15 participate in sports through club activities. This is no coincidence, but the result of decades of work. Sports clubs offer easily accessible opportunities to be active, play sports, and compete, and thanks to them, more and more people are discovering the joy of exercise.
But even though physical activity is part of daily life for many people, there is still much room for improvement. Only about one-third of children and adolescents get enough exercise, and for many adults, physical activity takes a back seat to the stresses of everyday life. The lack of exercise is also reflected in public health and in people’s ability to cope at work.
Now is the time to strengthen the vitality of the sports community—the vitality of our clubs. We urge candidates in the municipal and regional elections to join the “Movement Toward Better Times” campaign by registering as a sports candidate. A sports candidate promotes decision-making that supports an active lifestyle and also understands the overall value of club activities.
Local decision-makers – through cooperation, we can achieve success
Every year, municipalities spend over 700 million euros on sports, but this is only a fraction of their total budget. Most of the funds go toward maintaining sports facilities, yet sports clubs and volunteers do a tremendous amount of work to promote sports. Every euro invested in sports saves many times that amount in healthcare costs—and now is the time to ensure that resources are allocated wisely.
Sports clubs can only offer the joy of physical activity if they have the right conditions in place. This means easily accessible sports facilities, reasonable facility rental fees, and support for volunteer work. By investing in these areas, we are not only supporting sports—we are also building a community where people thrive.
Success depends on the ability to work together. As Michael Jordan once said:
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.”
The same applies to the promotion of physical activity and well-being. Individual initiatives may be beneficial, but only long-term cooperation, wise investments, and policies that support physical activity can build a healthy and active society.
Thank you to the heroes of community work for their efforts
Finnish sports clubs thrive thanks to volunteers. Without them, there would be no practices, competitions, camps, or social gatherings to ignite a passion for sports. Thank you to all the coaches, leaders, club officials, and support staff—you do invaluable work.
But a simple thank you isn’t enough. Organizations also need concrete action. Decision-makers must ensure that the valuable contribution of volunteer work isn’t lost due to bureaucracy or a lack of resources. Support for community organizations must be long-term.
Exercise isn’t an expense—it’s an investment that leads to healthier people, more vibrant communities, and a better future. Let’s run together toward better times!
The sports community’s election campaign, “Toward Better Times,” highlights the importance of physical activity, exercise, and sports ahead of the municipal and regional elections in April. The goal is to encourage decision-makers to harness the positive effects of physical activity as sources of functional ability, community, and vitality. Read more at liikuntavaalit.fi #KohtiKunnonAikoja #Liikuntaehdokas