The Finnish Workers' Sports Federation (, TUL, , AIF) is a Finnish amateur sports organization founded in 1919. In addition to the competitive sports, TUL focuses on youth activities and youth education as well as offering activities regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or financial means. TUL is one of the member associations of the Finnish Olympic Committee.

TUL 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.

History

thumb|A postage stamp celebrating the 1946 Federation Festival

Early years

thumb|1928 Moscow All-Union [[Spartakiad football match Uruguay (Federación Roja del Deporte) vs. Finland (Finnish Workers' Sports Association) at the Dynamo Stadium]]

After the 1918 Finnish Civil War, the Finnish Gymnastics and Sports Federation (SVUL) dismissed all clubs and athletes who had participated the war on the Red side. On 26 January 1919, 56 labour movement related clubs founded the new workers' sports central association Finnish Workers' Sports Federation (Suomen Työväen Urheiluliitto, TUL). During the first year, a 78 newly established clubs joined the federation, and by the end of 1919, TUL had about 10,000 members. In the next decade, the number rose up to 450 clubs with approximately 35,000 individual members.

The establishment of TUL led into a dispersion in the Finnish sports as there was no cooperation between TUL and SVUL. Both associations created their own practise and competition systems, the Finnish championship titles were decided by SVUL athletes as TUL had own championships. Also the Finland national teams were composed only of SVUL athletes.

After the 1936 Berlin Olympics, TUL and SVUL launched negotiations of cooperation as Helsinki was elected to host the 1940 Summer Olympics. Finally, in 1939 the parties signed a cooperation agreement. The TUL and SVUL athletes competed together for the first time in June 1939 as the TUL and Finnish Football Association teams played against each other at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium. The 1940 Summer Olympics were soon postponed due to the World War II, but TUL and SVUL continued their cooperation through the 1940s. In 1948, TUL athletes participated the Olympic Games for the first time, winning three medals, including one gold. The 37-year fragmented period finally came to an end in 1956, as the TUL and FA football series were merged. The number of individual members in TUL peaked at 380,000 in the early 1980s.

Chairmen

thumb|President of the Finnish Workers' Sports Federation and a member of the Finnish Olympic Committee Mr Olavi Suvanto at the 20th anniversary of athletics club Reposaaren Kunto in Pori, Finland, 1952.

  • Eino Pekkala 1919–1927
  • Väinö Mikkola 1927–1928
  • Toivo Wilppula 1928–1937
  • Urho Rinne 1937–1945
  • Olavi Suvanto 1945–1951
  • Väinö Leskinen 1951–1955
  • Penna Tervo 1955–1956
  • Pekka Martin 1956–1967
  • Olavi Saarinen 1967–1971
  • Osmo Kaipainen 1971–1977
  • Matti Ahde 1977–1995
  • Kalevi Olin 1995–2007
  • Sirpa Paatero 2007–2016
  • Kimmo Suomi 2016–2019
  • Lasse Mikkelsson 2019–

Olympic medalists

thumb|1948 Olympic gold medalist Tapio Rautavaara in the 1937 Workers' Olympiads.

The following athletes represented a Finnish Workers' Sports Federation's member association while winning an Olympic medal. Due to political reasons, TUL did not send athletes to the Olympics in 1920–1936 and again in 1960.

;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)

See also

  • TUL Cup
  • Finnish Workers' Sports Federation football team

References