Rantalainen is a long-standing partner of the Finnish Olympic Committee, and one form of this partnership is the annual “Sports Club of the Future” grant. Through this grant, Rantalainen aims to encourage sports clubs to look to the future and invest in modern operating methods.
The “Sports Club of the Future” scholarship has been awarded for several years now. The winner is selected by a joint jury consisting of the Olympic Committee and Rantalainen. The selection process emphasizes, among other things, the club’s values, responsibility, cooperation, long-term commitment, goal-oriented approach, and willingness to innovate and continuously improve its operations.
The Sports Club of the Future 2026
Applications for the 2026 “Sports Club of the Future” award are open throughout April 2026!
You can nominate your own club by describing what you believe are the most important characteristics of a sports club of the future, how these characteristics are reflected in the club’s activities, and how the club could make use of the €2,500 grant.
Rantalainen is a trusted partner for sports clubs in financial management
Rantalainen offers sports clubs support in developing their financial and payroll management. We understand the operating environment of sports clubs and support their activities with effective, reliable financial management. Electronic financial management and modern software solutions enable real-time financial monitoring and transparent information sharing within the club.
Check out Rantalainen’s services!
Previously Awarded Sports Clubs of the Future
Vantaan Salamat was named the “Sports Club of the Future” for 2025. Among other factors, the club’s systematic and values-driven approach influenced the selection.
– I feel that it’s good for the club to always think a couple of steps ahead. That way, we can better prepare for the future. Involving the coaches plays a significant role in the club’s growth and development. I was pretty stunned when we got the call saying we’d actually won the competition. But this is really cool for our whole club. It’s great to see and hear that our work is making a difference, says Pekka Kurvinen, Executive Director of Vantaan Salamat.
In 2024, the “Sports Club of the Future” grant was awarded to Salpis ry, the largest volleyball club in the Päijät-Häme region. In its decision, the selection committee highlighted Salpis ry’s long-term development efforts.
– This award is a significant source of support and recognition for the work we’ve done. One of our biggest challenges has been simplifying our financial management. Now that we’ve modernized our financial operations, we can focus on tackling our next challenge. The club faces a chronic shortage of qualified coaches, but the Sports Club of the Future grant provides an opportunity to train and develop coaches, says Mika Laurila, chairman of Salpis ry.
In 2023, Lempäälän Kisa Yleisurheilu ry was selected as the winner. The selection committee considered the club’s activities to be of consistently high quality and exemplary.
– This award is a wonderful recognition of many years of dedicated work. Where we are today traces its roots back 13 years, when we participated in the Finnish Athletics Federation’s club development project. “Back then, we set out to envision the club’s dreams without any limitations,” commented Timo Reunanen, Executive Director of Lempäälän Kisa Yleisurheilu ry.