Lahti’s Kortteliliga has kept the townspeople moving for more than fifty years. The activity that started as a competition between groups of friends plays a big role as a builder of friendships and community.
More than 5,000 matches are played annually in the Lahti Kortteliliga and there are more than 450 teams. The corona era hit the membership. At its peak there were already more than 4,000 members, now there are five hundred fewer.
– Many young people start sports in club teams. However, not everyone becomes Jari Litmas or major league athletes. We are a natural option when you want to continue your sports hobby, explains Ropponen.
There are plenty of different exercise opportunities, as the Kortteliliga sports selection includes 15 sports from football to curling and from mölky to poker.
An important cornerstone of community
The importance of sports and club activities as a developer of community has been studied. It turned out that the friendship network is wider if you are involved in sports, organizations and especially sports club activities.
Sports and club activities are often looked at from the point of view of exercise, but according to Koske, it is also important from the point of view of civil society and democracy. First of all, because nine out of ten children come before adulthood to seek experience in club activities.
– Another important thing is the intellectual capital that accumulates through this. It’s also worth mentioning that sports and club activities are an easy way to meet new people when, for example, you move from one place to another, says Koski.
Jarmo Ropponen, executive director of the Kortteliiga, reminds us that the league has its own role as an integrator of immigrants. Immigrants have been involved in the operation since the 1970s.
– I remember a case where two guys played in the same team whose home countries were at war with each other. Here they were teammates, says Ropponen.
A community where friendships last
The legend of the league began with a competition between groups of friends. The first sport of the neighborhood league was football. According to Jarmo Roppe, there are groups of friends in the league who have been together for up to 50 years.
– I was just recently at a group’s 30th anniversary party. You heard great stories and memories there.
In the association, you can find friends who have been together since school, and who support each other in all life situations.
– All kinds of things hurt and happen in life. I have noticed that friends here support each other in times of trouble. Peer support and other help is available, says Ropponen.
Happy retirement
Jarmo Ropponen joined the activities of the Kortteliiga in the early 1970s when he was under twenty. After various assignments, he became the executive director of the league.
The long-time executive director leaves his followers with a challenge.
– A couple of years ago, we were in even better shape than now, but Corona left its mark and quite a lot of people were left on the bottom of the sofa at home. My followers and division officials have a challenge to attract them back to moving, laughs Ropponen.