A Via Dolorosa ? The Sport Commission of the Finnish Officers’ Union in 1948–1972

Authors

• Jarkko Kemppi Itä-Suomen yliopisto

Abstract

The Finnish Officers' Club, later the Finnish Officers’ Union was established in Helsinki on November 24th 1918. At the beginning there was no sport activity in the Union. During the years after the war the life-styles of the officers weren't always healthy. In 1948 the Union established the Sport Commission. Its purpose was to develop the officers' activity in various sports. The Commission was supposed to be in deep co-operation with other departments of the Union. The Commission of sport tried to increase officers' activity in sport but its work was not very highly appreciated. There were efforts to finish the Commission already in the 1950's, but it continued its work until the year 1972. The Finnish Officers has been actively involved with other organizations of sport, for example the Union of Military Sport.