Janne Leskinen named Secretary
General of Lahti 2017
Janne Leskinen - Other
Janne Leskinen, CEO of Ski Sport Finland, was announced
as Secretary General of the 2017 FIS Nordic World
Ski Championships in Lahti (FIN). Leskinen will
begin his new position in spring 2014 shortly after
the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi (RUS).
Since 2009, when the organisation was founded, Leskinen
served as the CEO of Ski Sport Finland. A former
Alpine racer, Leskinnen sees Lahti 2017 as an opportunity
to bring Finnish sports culture back to its top
position. "It's great that someone with a strong
alpine background, can take on a project like this.
I know that the technical organisation of the competition
is already in solid hands with great know-how. The
mission of the Lahti 2017 Organisers is to build
a championship experience that the Finnish population
wants to be a part and proud of."
When the position of Lahti 2017 Secretary General
opened, Leskinen saw a great opportunity to influence
the Finnish world of sport and its role in society.
"This is a big opportunity for Finnish sports.
It is the most important sporting event in a long
time. Lahti 2017 can be a milestone in Finnish sports,
a new beginning", Leskinen said.
In his opinion, sport is undergoing a renaissance.
The goal is to also engage the National Olympic
Committee throughout the organisation. "We
need a new management culture with skills and knowledge
at all levels" he continued.
The Chairman of the Lahti 2017 Local Organising
Committee, Jukka-Pekka Vuori set an explicit target
for the project in 2017 to become the ultimate winter
sports event in Finland. "Lahti 2017 is an
opportunity for Finland’s Nordic Skiing. Success,
fame and the economy are key areas in which we will
not accept compromise. I am very pleased that with
Janne Leskinen a person with such a strong background
in winter sports was selected. His personality and
expertise will continue to integrate Nordic Skiing
within Finnish sports. Cooperation is needed now
more than ever" said Vuori.
