The City of Kotka has been involved ever since the decision was made to bid for the Jukola Relay to Kotka almost a decade ago.
– The project was postponed several times, due to the pandemic among other reasons, and the matter has been presented to the city board at least twice, recalls Kotka’s liaison officer Kari Makkonen.
The world’s largest orienteering relay will be held in Kotka next year for the first time, and the city is assessing the event’s regional economic impact and publicity value in deciding on the partnership.
– Kotka-Jukola is an event of such magnitude that it is definitely one of the city’s flagship projects next year. We aim for positive publicity for the Kotka region and for the image of an active sports city. Visitors are expected to leave millions of euros in the area.
The city has committed to supporting the event with a total of 100,000 euros, which will, however, be spread over several years.
– The organizing clubs have used the city’s support for various purposes, but the main focus has been on producing the maps. It is also good to remember that alongside the Jukola Relay a new sports venue and orienteering terrain will be created, which will remain in use far into the future.
In addition to direct financial support, the city supports the Jukola arrangements by providing work assistance in matters such as land use and by sharing event-related communications in its own channels.
– Although during the Jukola weekend visitors are mostly in the forest, our goal is to highlight Kotka’s strengths, such as the parks and the sea. Perhaps people will come to explore those separately on a later trip. Top orienteers will of course train in the region earlier as well and use, among other things, accommodation services.
Three tips from Kari Makkonen for those arriving in Kotka:
- The Nordic region’s most awarded parks, found across the city.
- A maritime city whose centre is built on an island, so the shores, waterfront cafés and archipelago offer wonderful experiences.
- The old main harbour transformed into a cultural harbour, home to the Maritime Centre Vellamo and the Satama Areena event centre.
