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Finland SportsFinland's most popular team sports are soccer (football), ice hockey, basketball and pes"pallo (Finnish baseball, a variation on American baseball, the most significant difference being "vertical" pitching). Finland's men's hockey team finished 2nd in the 2004 World Cup. American football is also quite popular, with the Finnish national team winning the EFAF European Championships many times. Finland's most popular individual sports are cross country skiing, ski jumping, gymnastics, long-distance running and javelin throwing. Finland has dominated world rally-driving championships by winning 12 times since the competition was established in 1979. Early champions were Rauno Aaltonen and Pauli Tovenen (1960's), Markku Alen (1970's), Hannu Mikkola, Ari Vatanen, Timo Salonen, Juha Kankkunen (1980's), Tommi M"kinen and Tapio Laukkanen (1990's). The current world champion is Marcus Gronholm of Finland. Also, Keke Rosberg (1970's), J. J. Lehto (1980's) and Mika H"kkinen (1990's) have been big forces in the Formula-One racing series. The Neste Rally of the 1000 Lakes is the biggest sporting event in Finland. Finland hosted the 10th International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) world championships in 2005; this is the world's biggest sporting event after the summer Olympics. |
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