At its meeting on 22 November, the annual meeting of Kaukametsäläiset ry elected Petri Paukkunen from Kaarina as its new Chair.
Kaukametsäläiset ry, the founding and owning association of the Jukola Relay, saw its previous Chair, Mikkeli-based Juhani Sihvonen, step down after leading the association for 14 years.
Sihvonen’s feelings are wistful yet forward-looking. “Jukola is known for its high quality and appeal, and it attracts around 18,000 participants every year, from the world’s top athletes to recreational orienteers. I hand over the flagship of orienteering to my successor with pride and confidence.” During Sihvonen’s tenure, the Jukola Relay further strengthened its position as the world’s largest orienteering relay.
New Chair Petri Paukkunen
The newly elected Chair, 46-year-old Paukkunen, who works as a regional manager, is a familiar face both on the start line of orienteering races and in organising roles. Among other responsibilities, Paukkunen served as competition director of the Jukola Relay at the 2022 Lukkari-Jukola in Mynämäki, after which he was invited to become a member of Kaukametsäläiset later the same year.
He is only the sixth Chair in the association’s 77-year history.
New members invited to Kaukametsäläiset ry were Teijo Oksanen (Helsinki), Jukka Taimisto (Lieto) and Heikki Tonteri (Mikkeli). The association’s board elected Minna Kauppi and Mika Ilomäki as new members. Continuing on the board are Timo Kokko, Jarkko Liuha, Petteri Palmi and Janne Virtanen. The annual meeting also decided on significant donations. The association donated 35,000 euros to the Orienteering Foundation and presented 15,000 euros to the Finnish Orienteering Federation on its 80th anniversary.
Kaukametsäläiset ry is the founding and owning body of the Jukola Relay.
Founded in 1948, the association’s role is to ensure that the Jukola Relay is organised to a high standard and that its traditions are upheld, especially in the spirit of Aleksis Kivi’s Seven Brothers. Kaukametsäläiset ry invites as members individuals distinguished in orienteering and in the Jukola Relay. The association has at most 77 members at any one time, and membership is for life.
Funds left over from ordinary activities are used to support the sport of orienteering. It awards grants to successful orienteers and, in particular, has focused on supporting youth activities and ensuring the conditions for participation in orienteering.
The work of Kaukametsäläiset ry is visible in the development of Jukola and in the vitality of Finnish orienteering as a whole.
Further information:
Petri Paukkunen,
tel. +358 400 669 203