The message of the Jukola orienteering relay event that was held in Rovaniemi on 21-22 August was addressed to the Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland. According to the decades old tradition, soon after crossing the finishing line, the anchor of the winning team will read a message greeting a topical community or group or attracting attention to a matter of importance.

In Rovaniemi, the recipient of the message
was the Arctic Centre, through which the message was also aimed at increasing
information about the Arctic region and preserving the Arctic nature. The previous
three recipients of the message have been the National Board of Education, the
Finnish Defense Forces and the centenary of Finland’s
independence.  In the past, the message has also
been addressed to a number of organizations and other actors of general
interest.

– This is a truly wonderful
tribute to the work of the Arctic Centre.  I feel
immense joy and pride on behalf of the whole work community. At the same time, this
strongly obliges us to continue our work to promote the sustainability of the Arctic
region and to increase Arctic knowledge and understanding,” says Johanna Ikävalko,
Director of the Arctic Centre.

The
message was read early Sunday morning by Eemil Svensk, the anchor of the Stora Tuna
team that won the Jukola orienteering relay. On behalf of the Arctic Centre, the
message was received by research professor Timo Koivurova.

The entire message reads as follows:

”Blue stretched the sky, a faint west wind breathed in the air,
the birch gleamed on the hill in its new cloak of green and a white-foaming rowan
spread its perfume far around.”

This is
how Finland’s national author Aleksis Kivi describes the beauty of the Finnish
nature during the early summer.

Clean
nature, clean air or clean waters however should not be taken for granted. The
Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland promotes sustainability of the northern
part of Finland by increasing the knowledge about the Arctic region. The work is
done by combining high-quality research and providing scientific information to both
decision makers and the general public.

Nearby the Arctic Circle, we have carried our message through
the bright summer night of Lapland on Vennivaara’s demanding cliffs and on the
surrounding treeless wet swamps, to thank the Arctic Centre and all other parties,
who with their work and example want to contribute to preserving the unique beauty
and purity of the Arctic nature also for the future
generations.

Rovaniemi, the 22nd of
August 2021

Jukola Relay orienteers

 

More information:
Markku
Heikkilä
Head of Science Communications
Arctic Centre,
University of Lapland
040 484 4300, markku.heikkila(at)ulapland.fi