The Finnish Army and Louna-Jukola 2015 signed a cooperation agreement on October 29, 2014 concerning the Jukola Relay to be organized in Paimio next summer.
The agreement was signed by Lieutenant General Seppo Toivonen, the Commander of the Finnish Army, Colonel Timo Mustaniemi, the Deputy Chief of Staff (Personnel) of the Finnish Army, and – on behalf of the organization of Louna-Jukola – Janne Virtanen, the Event Director, Jyrki Laine, the chairman of Paimion Rasti, and Mikko Mannonen, the chairman of Turun Suunnistajat.
The Finnish Defence Forces, as Finland’s biggest fitness school and the main partner of Jukola Relay, support the event through material loans and expert assistance. Among other things, the Defence Forces loan half-platoon tents for the event and build data communication connections from the terrain for the result service and TV.
– The Jukola Relay is a traditional event that keeps people fit. Orienteering is an essential skill for soldiers, and dozens of teams from the Defence Forces participate in the relay annually. The Jukola Relay is a significant event that the Defence Forces are willing to support, states Lieutenant General Seppo Toivonen, the Commander of the Finnish Army.
Louna-Jukola is practically organized by volunteers. According to the organizers, without the material, expert and personnel support received via partnership with the Defence Forces, organizing the event would be really challenging for the orienteering clubs.
– I truly appreciate the long-term, extensive cooperation between the Defence Forces and Jukola Relay. Us organizers of Louna-Jukola provide the wide publicity of Jukola and a partnership with a brand with strong traditions. For their part, the Defence Forces develop and produce the biggest relay orienteering event in the world, acknowledges Janne Virtanen, the Event Director of Louna-Jukola.
This time, the support of Defence Forces is provided by the Pori Brigade Army unit, with contribution from e.g. the Armoured Brigade and the Army Academy as well as the C4 Agency.
Further information:
Event Director Janne Virtanen (Paimion Rasti), tel. +358 40 583 6950
Vice Event Director Erkki Haavisto (Turun Suunnistajat), tel. +358 500 540 032
Chairman of the Communications Committee Janne Salmi (Turun Suunnistajat), tel. +358 40 652 7490
Event Director of Louna-Jukola Janne Virtanen (on the left) and the Commander of the Finnish Army, Lieutenant General Seppo Toivonen after signing the cooperation agreement. Photo: Finnish Defence Forces.
