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16.2.2026 | Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity Mika Poutala will visit the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics between 17 and 22 February.

Sports and physical activity In the central government, the Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for creating favourable conditions for sports and physical activity as well as for the reconciliation and development of sport policy. The...

Ministry of Education and Culture Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity Mika Poutala Christian Democrats in Finland Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity Poutala is responsible for matters covered by the Department of Youth and S...

Current issues Latest news RSS (Opens New Window) (Opens New Window) Satakunta Museum showcases 3D models of prehistoric artefacts for educational use Type: News item Publication date: 12.5.2026 16.29 Finland’s shared vision for higher education a...

Archive: Press releases and news Please enter one or more search word Select topic All Copyright Culture Early childhood education and care Education Libraries Religious affairs Research Sports Youth Select year All 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2...

Press releases RSS (Opens New Window) (Opens New Window) Evaluation of National World Heritage Strategy: successful implementation, impact needs to grow Type: Press release Publication date: 23.4.2026 10.06 Finland to limit participation in Venice...

11.3.2025 | Sandra Bergqvist, Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity will be travelling with the Finnish Paralympic Committee to Italy and visit the Special Olympics World Winter Games for athletes with disabilities between 12 and 14 March 2025.

18.3.2025 | The Nordic ministers responsible for sports have signed a joint letter to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The letter states that the Nordic countries will continue to support the organisation financially but are concerned about recent disputes over doping control.

20.7.2021 | Minister of Science and Culture Antti Kurvinen will visit the Tokyo Summer Olympics on 23–27 July 2021. During his visit, Minister Kurvinen will attend the opening of the Olympic Games and show his support for Finland’s athletes. He will also meet with Japanese partners to discuss issues related to education, research and innovation.

Sports institutes Finland has nine national and three regional sports training centres, i.e. sports institutes (colleges of physical education). The Ministry of Education and Culture provides support to the operation of these institutes. Sports in...

Performance sports By providing elite athlete grants and developing the conditions for coaching, the Ministry of Education and Culture promotes performance sports geared toward the achievement of international success. The Ministry does not provid...

Awards and decorations The Ministry of Education and Culture grants awards and decorations to Finnish athletes in recognition for a distinguished career in sports or for a major athletic achievement. Athlete pensions A supplementary athlete pensio...

Awards and decorations The Ministry of Education and Culture grants awards and decorations to Finnish athletes in recognition for a distinguished career in sports or for a major athletic achievement. Athlete pensions A supplementary athlete pensio...

EU and international cooperation The Ministry of Education and Culture participates in various international organisations in sport-related cooperation between different countries, as well as in the preparation of sport-related matters in the Euro...

EU and international cooperation The Ministry of Education and Culture participates in various international organisations in sport-related cooperation between different countries, as well as in the preparation of sport-related matters in the Euro...

Financing of sport The task of sports administration and services is to promote sports and physical activity. The Ministry of Education and Culture is responsible for the general direction, coordination and development of sports policy and for ens...

2.2.2026 | Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity Mika Poutala met his Estonian counterpart, Undersecretary for Sports Raido Mitt, and his delegation on Monday 2 February. At the meeting, they discussed Finnish experiences and best practices related to modern multi-purpose arenas. The visit is related to a planned multi-purpose arena in Tallinn.

3.12.2019 | China-Finland Year of Winter Sports Closing Ceremony took place at Lappi Areena in Rovaniemi on 3 December 2019. Minister of Science and Culture Hanna Kosonen and Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan took part in the celebrations.

10.1.2019 | The year 2019 was designated as the China Finland Year of Winter Sports at the meeting of the Finnish and Chinese presidents in spring 2017. Finland is the first country with which China has agreed on this type of winter sports partnership. The thematic year and the preparations for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing are expected to boost Chinese interest in Finnish winter sports expertise.

12.11.2025 | The Sports Ministers of 33 countries and the European Commission have expressed their grave concern about the decision of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in September to discontinue the partial suspensions of the National Paralympic Committees of Belarus and Russia from the Paralympic Games.