Finnish Workers' Sports Federation
 | |
| Formation | 26 January 1919 |
|---|---|
| Type | Sports federation |
| Headquarters | Helsinki, Finland |
Membership | 1,000 member associations |
Chairman | Kimmo Suomi |
| Website | www.tul.fi |
The Finnish Workers' Sports Federation (Finnish: Suomen Työväen Urheiluliitto, TUL, Swedish: Arbetarnas Idrottsförbund i Finland, AIF) is a Finnish amateur sports organisation, with a strong labour union background. TUL was founded in 1919. Nowadays, TUL concentrates on easily accessible exercise, not competitive sports. TUL’s goal is to ensure that all citizens - regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or financial means - will be able to practice sports in good company and in their own living environment. [1]
It is affiliated with the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions as well as the Social Democratic Party of Finland and Left Alliance. It is also a member of the International Labour Sports Federation (CSIT). TUL currently has more than 280,000 members, active in 1,000 clubs in 59 different sports.
Olympic medalists
All following athletes were representing a Finnish Workers' Sports Federation's member association while winning an Olympic medal. Due to political reasons, the Finnish Olympic Committee did not send TUL athletes to the Olympics between 1920 and 1936 and again in 1960.[2]
- Gold
- Tapio Rautavaara (London 1948, javelin throw)
- Kelpo Gröndahl (Helsinki 1952, wrestling)
- Marjut Lukkarinen (Albertville 1992, cross-country skiing)
- Silver
- Kelpo Gröndahl (London 1948, wrestling)
- Reima Virtanen (Munich 1972, boxing)
- Tapio Sipilä (Los Angeles 1984, wrestling)
- Marjut Lukkarinen (Albertville 1992, cross-country skiing)
- Ismo Falck (Barcelona 1992, men's team archery)
- Jani Sievinen (Atlanta 1996, swimming)
- Bronze
- Reino Kangasmäki (London 1948, wrestling)
- Paavo Aaltonen, Kaino Lempinen, Kalevi Viskari (Helsinki 1952, men's team all-around gymnastics)
- Toivo Salonen (Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956, speed skating)
- Voitto Hellstén (Melbourne 1956, 400 metres)
- Jorma Valkama (Melbourne 1956, long jump)
- Taisto Kangasniemi (Melbourne 1956, wrestling)
- Kalevi Suoniemi, Martti Mansikka (Melbourne 1956, men's team all-around gymnastics)
- Hannu Rantakari (Tokyo 1964, gymnastics)
- Tapio Sipilä (Seoul 1988, wrestling)
References
- ↑ "TUL > Liitto > In English". www.tul.fi. Retrieved 2016-06-27.
- ↑ TUL:n olympiamitalistit (in Finnish). Retrieved 22 May 2015.