The Suomisport club day was held at Helsinki Olympic Stadium on Saturday, 29 August 2026. The event brought together sports club representatives from a range of disciplines to share experiences, help shape the development of Suomisport, and gain fresh perspectives on their work within their clubs.
Sports clubs helped shape the development of Suomisport
The day began with a tour of the offices of the Finnish Olympic Committee and the sports federations. Afterwards, the participants got to know one another and heard the latest news from Suomisport.
The formal programme focused on sports clubs’ data and reporting needs. During a joint workshop, participants shared insights into their clubs’ day-to-day operations, put forward ideas for further development and discussed what kinds of data would support club activities. Among those taking part was Harri Salminen, chair of the cycling club Idrottsklubben-32 ry (IK-32).
– We want a clearer understanding of our membership numbers and how they are changing. Our goal is to run the club based on data rather than guesswork, Salminen says.
Helsingin Agility Urheilijat ry was represented at the club day by its vice-chair, Veera.
– It would be important for us to have data on our members’ activity, participation and engagement, Veera says.
Different clubs share similar needs
Although the clubs using Suomisport represent different sports and operate in different ways, the workshop identified many shared needs in areas such as membership management, participation tracking, and reporting.
– It was interesting to see that although the clubs operate in very different ways, their needs are still very similar. We can benefit from the same solutions even though we organise our activities differently, Veera explains.
During the day, participants also learned about Suomisport features and ways of using the service that had not yet been adopted in their own clubs. Sharing experiences helped them look at their club operations from a fresh perspective.
Salminen appreciated seeing that clubs’ needs had already been taken into account in the development of Suomisport.
– It was encouraging to see and hear the ideas being considered for the development of Suomisport. I had brought my own wish list and noticed that many of its items had already been considered and work on them had begun, Salminen says.
One practical idea Salminen took away from the day concerned payment due dates. The solution could be useful in IK-32’s financial management, so he planned to share it with the person responsible for the club’s finances.
Meeting other club representatives broadened perspectives
Meeting representatives from other clubs helped participants understand how differently clubs use Suomisport and what kinds of needs a shared service should address.
Pekka Kurvinen of Vantaan Salamat ry has attended every Suomisport club day. He particularly values the opportunity to influence the development of the service and hear about other clubs’ experiences.
– The club day gives us an opportunity to have a say, and clubs’ views are heard. It is also interesting to hear about the needs of other clubs. The club days also have a pleasantly relaxed atmosphere, Kurvinen says.
After the formal programme, participants gathered for a pizza dinner. The day continued at Helsinki Olympic Stadium with an international track and field meet between Finland and Sweden.
– Suomisport makes club administration easier, freeing up time for the club’s core activities, Salminen says, summarising the day’s key takeaway.