The Finnish Society of Sport Sciences has started its International year 2009

We celebrated our 75th Anniversary last year meanwhile our major international partner International Council of Sport Sciences and Physical Education (ICSSPE) celebrated its 50th Anniversary. The Finnish Society (FSSS) is a member of ICSSPE almost since its birth. The role of the FSSS in Finland is largely the same as ICSSPE has in the world level, i.e. to serve as an umbrella in promoting Science, distributing Scientific Knowledge and advocating Sport Sciences. So it is easy to understand that a close collaboration between us is of major importance, especially for Finland in the area of Sport Sciences and Physical Education.

The 2008 Guangzhou General Assembly of ICSSPE in August last year was a most important event for the whole organization. Prof. Dr. Margaret Talbot of England was elected new President after Gudrun Doll-Tepper’s term from the beginning of this year. Several others also retired from the Executive Board like professors Darlene Kluka and Tony Parker. Both are very important persons for the international Sports Science community. Tony gave a great service to the world organization as the Science Director of the Board and Darlene as the Chairperson for the Editorial Board. Their role has been invaluable for the ICSSPE.

Personally, ICSSPE General Assembly was also an important event. I was elected a member of the Executive Board from the beginning of this year. Justice Lauri Tarasti was my precedent in the Board for eight years. Now it is my job to fill-up his large boots which is not an easy task. I also was elected as the new Chair for the Editorial Board from the beginning of this year. Prof. Dr. Darlene Kluka served the Board during the last eight years. Also her boots are very difficult to fill-in. What can I do other than promise to do my best. I truly hope I can do it and continue these jobs properly.

Now I’m sitting in a Ferry on my way to Tartu of Estonia. Together with Prof. Dr. Toivo Jurimae from the University of Tartu we’ll start tomorrow morning measurements to study oxygen uptake on/off kinetics between arms and legs during all-out swimming. The next two days will be spent on starting a series of measurements with Estonian elite swimmers. We utilize a special procedure of measuring gas exchange breath-by-breath on-line during swimming. I’ll let you know more about this exciting new project when we get some data analyzed.