It is something strange, really peculiar. This connection brings me enormous pleasure. KARHU will forever be a part of my success in Helsinki. Now, more than half a century later, coming back as a partner in this event that represents so much to me.... it has a special appeal. This partnership brings it all together: my life as an athlete, my career as an entrepreneur, and my family. It's one-of-a-kind and incredibly meaningful.  

 For me, athletics is still everything. We can't live solely in our memories, but memories are part of my life. Athletics became part of me; it changed me completely. Besides the results, athletics has provided me with unforgettable experiences, shaping me as a human being. Let me give you a practical example: 50 years ago, the idea of getting on a plane and traveling around the world, discovering it, was the stuff of dreams. Feeling like a part of this world is wonderful and unique, especially during those times. And athletics introduced me to my wife. That's why I'll always love athletics.

It's extremely important not only for European middle distance but also for the sport worldwide. Europe has to get competitive and successful again in the middle distance, as it was in my time with Nordic athletes and Finns, especially. They dominated the entire sport. After that, there was a more nuanced period where great African champions made their mark. Today, in addition to the satisfaction in the broad sense of the word, this gradual return of European middle distance gives us a chance to impart that rich European history in the running and lay the foundations for its future.

First and foremost, athletics teaches you never to give up. That's the first rule. Every champion struggles at some point, but athletics teaches that certain values, like hard work, always yield results. And these values can be carried over into our everyday lives as I did at the end of my sports career.

 It's allowed me to set goals and achieve them. That said, if you have to break a record, you must train hard. In the business world, it's the same. When you have to make a profit and increase brand awareness, the dynamic is quite similar: you have a goal and need to meet it with the right mindset. Athletics has also taught me that there are always goals to reach, and giving up gets you nowhere. Athletics has also given me enthusiasm, a crucial quality in sports as much as in work. Another thing is the stopwatch. It shows you if you're making it or not. The same goes for centimeters in the case of jumps or throws. They are rational, scientific means of evaluation, and similar measurements can be used in work or your personal life. They help you create a personal balance and understand that either you make a move or you don't: there are no alternatives; the rest is just talk.

This fusion came about almost by accident. My family and I didn't think we'd become sponsors of these European Championships with KARHU, but the opportunity presented itself, and we jumped in wholeheartedly. For me, even now, it's a victory. It's that simple. A victory without medals, but it's something that gives an 80-year-old like me a chance to experience those incredible feelings again, those amazing sports moments. Athletics always delivers something magical. It's also a victory for the company and its future. This event is an opportunity for our company and our image and development, and it's a huge satisfaction for me and my children, who are working hard to take advantage of this opportunity. They have enthusiasm; as I said before, enthusiasm is essential in life.