Let’s be better: In Welcoming all in sports 3.12.2024

We are thrilled to invite you to our upcoming international seminar, hosted by the WELLcome-project. The seminar is dedicated to topics such as equality, integration, inclusion and diversity in sports. The seminar is in the same time a continuation from the previous Let’s be better seminar in 2023. Watch the recording from the 2023 seminar here.

Date: 3.12.2024

Time: 10.00-15.00 EET. The registration opens at 9.15.

Location: Cultural Centre Hanaholmen in Espoo, Finland and live streaming

Costs: Participation is free of charge and the participants are offered free lunch and coffee

Accessibility: Hanasaari’s facilities are well suited for guests with different kinds of disabilities. More information below under the title ”accessibility”.

Language: The program is in English.

For whom: Management, decision-makers, employees, coaches, and active members of sports organizations. People working with integration/inclusion in society and other interested in the topic are warmly welcome.

Organizer: WELLcome-project in co-operation with the Cultural Centre Hanaholmen in Espoo.

Registration deadline: 25.11.2024

REGISTER HERE

The seminar is held December 3 from 10 a.m. (breakfast 9.15 a.m. for those participating on location) to 3 p.m. in the Cultural Centre Hanaholmen in Espoo and live streaming. The program is in English. Participation is free of charge and the participants are offered free lunch and coffee.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Engaging keynote presentations by experts in the field (to be announced).
• Practical insights and strategies in promoting integration through sports.
• Networking opportunities with professionals and organisations passionate about using sports for positive change.
• Inspiring discussions on sustainability, inclusivity, and equity in sports.

Save the date and stay tuned for more details!

We kindly welcome you to join!

Sports Square

If you’re attending in person, don’t miss our Sports Square! It’s the perfect space to discover and share best practices and tools for promoting inclusion in sports. Explore a variety of engaging materials and find new ways to make sports accessible for everyone.

Do you have materials you’d like to showcase at the Sports Square? We’d love to hear from you! Please reach out to iida.laitila@idrott.fi for more information.

PROGRAM

9.15 ​Registration and breakfast

10.00 Opening words

Miguel Peltomaa, Moderator

Miguel Peltomaa is a sign language artist, media personality, and social media influencer focused on creating accessible content. Having lost his hearing as a child, he now uses a cochlear implant and has familiarized the public with sign language and its culture through various Finnish television programs, including children’s programming and music competitions.

Mikael Hiltunen, Project Manager (politics and society), Hanaholmen

10.05​​ Video Greeting from the Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity Sandra Bergqvist

Sandra Bergqvist, Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity

Minister of Youth, Sport and Physical Activity Bergqvist is responsible for matters covered by the Department of Youth and Sport Policy, including matters related to student financial aid. Sandra Bergqvist holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences and has also completed basic courses in family-based childcare and elderly care. Bergqvist has chaired Pargas City Executive and City Council and served as a member of the board of directors of the Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland. She has worked at the Association of Finnish Municipalities, the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Swedish Assembly of Finland (Folktinget) and the Åbo Akademi University.

10.10​​ Let´s be better in Welcoming all

Tarja Krum, Project Manager of the WELLcome-project

Tarja Krum is the sustainability manager at Finlands Svenska Idrott and project manager of the WELLcome -project. She has experience in working with equality and inclusion in sports with sports associations and federations. Tarja is the chair of Equality Within Sport (EWS) committee and is the European representative in the Global Executive, an international board governing The International Working Group (IWG) on Women and Sport.

10.20​​ Safer Sports for All: Lessons From Forced Migrant Athletes

Dr. Cole Giffin

Cole Giffin is a Governor General Gold Medal Recipient from Laurentian University.
Cole is currently completing his post-doctorate in Social Work and works as an Adjunct
faculty in Laurentian’s School of Kinesiology and Health Sciences and as a Mental
Wellness Coordinator within Laurentian’s Athletics department. His research focus
includes athlete abuse, fostering inclusion and belonging within elite and community
sports contexts, and creating growth-based environments. His work has been supported
by the Advanced Olympic Studies Grant Program and the Social Sciences and
Humanities Research Council of Canada. His mission is to create sporting
environments that foster authenticity, growth, and nourishment for the mind, body, and
soul.

11.00​​ The Importance of Diversity in Sports

Dakota Robin, Certified Human rights Trainer and DEI Specialist

Dakota Robin, 33, is a business administration graduate and an internationally certified human rights educator. He is a former professional football player, who has trained organizations and communities worldwide on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) topics for nearly 10 years. In 2023, Dakota was one of Finland’s most sought-after speakers, known for his warm presence and ability to create safer spaces for learning and inspiration.

Azuka Nnamaka, Operations Manager at RF-SISU Stockholm

Azuka Nnamaka has worked in different roles within the Swedish sporting community where she has voiced issues concerning equality and inclusion. For six years she was a board member of the Swedish Basketball Federation and installed a code of conduct with the hopes of safeguarding anyone in association with the federation but primarily the national teams. 

Henrik Krogius, Para Swimmer

Henrik Krogius is a para swimmer who has represented the national team in numerous international competitions, including the Para Swimming World Championships and the Para Swimming European Championships. He is a World Champion in short-stature swimming, a Nordic Champion in swimming, and has won several medals in the Finnish Swimming Championships.
He is currently in his third year studying Bachelor of Business Administration at Arcada University of Applied Sciences.

Moderator: Kim Lindblad

Kim Lindblad works as Manager of International Affairs and Languages at Humak University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki. He holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Elementary Education, specialized in physical education, from Åbo Akademi. Kim has extensive experience in teaching and international affairs. A lifelong sports enthusiast, Kim is actively racing in sailing as a member of Ekenäs Yacht Club, and has a background in track and field with Ekenäs IF.

12.00 Lunch

12.45​ Surprise Program: The Mist 

12.55​ Creating Inclusive Sports Environment with a Norm Aware Approach – Experiences from Sweden 

Sofia B. Karlsson, Consultant and Project Manager in Safe and Equal Sports

Sofia B. Karlsson is a board member of the Stockholm Football Association and an employee of the Swedish Cheerleading Federation. With a background as a tennis player and a sociology major, she has extensive experience working in Swedish sports organizations, including the Swedish Sports Confederation, AIK Football, and SHL, focusing on gender equality, inclusivity, and diversity.

13.45 ​​Coffee break

14.00-14.45 ​The WELLcome-model in Sports

Lena Hindström-Pesu, Executive Director at Åbo IFK Sports Club.

Lena Hindström-Pesu is the executive director of Åbo IFK Sports Club. ÅIFK is a multi-sport club, with football and handball being the largest sports. Her responsibilities include leading and developing the club’s activities. The most important stakeholders are the families of the athletes and players, as well as a large number of volunteers. The club has full-time head coaches and lead coaches. The club has also acted as the pilot club for the WELLcome project.

Annika Rae, coordinator for multicultural education in the City of Turku.

Annika Rae is a multicultural education coordinator for the City of Turku, where she develops and coordinates educational services for newly arrived immigrant children and youth, as well as multilingual students who have lived in Turku for an extended period.

Abdirahman Sugulle, football referee.

Abdirahman Sugulle, 27, from Espoo, has Somali roots but was born and raised in Finland. He began refereeing football at 15 and has since officiated in the men’s second division and as a fourth official in Veikkausliiga. In his lecture, Abdirahman shares his motivation as a football referee and discusses how to inspire young people to pursue their passion for sports and achieve their dreams.

Maurizio Pratesi, expert in multiculturalism, Football Association of Finland.

Maurizio Pratesi is a former professional basketball player, having competed for six years in the German Bundesliga and as part of the Finnish men’s National Team. Since retiring in 2003, he has founded several NGOs and community programs supporting marginalized children and youth in sports. Currently, he is the Director of Walter ry and an advisor on diversity and anti-racism for the Football Association of Finland.

Moderator: Kim Lindblad

Kim Lindblad works as Manager of International Affairs and Languages at Humak University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki. He holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Elementary Education, specialized in physical education, from Åbo Akademi. Kim has extensive experience in teaching and international affairs. A lifelong sports enthusiast, Kim is actively racing in sailing as a member of Ekenäs Yacht Club, and has a background in track and field with Ekenäs IF.

14.45​​ Learnings and call to action

14.50​​ Closing words​ and ending the seminar​

Thomas Blomqvist, Chairman of Finlands Svenska Idrott

Changes in the program may still occur

About the wellcome project

In the WELLcome project, innovative sports models are developed to integrate refugees into society through sports. Finlands Svenska Idrott (FSI) and Humak University of Applied Sciences collaborate with sport clubs and reception centres in Finland to create sports opportunities for children and youth with immigrant and refugee backgrounds.

Read more about the project hear https://idrott.fi/wellcome-in-english/

Accessibility

Hanasaari’s facilities are well suited for guests with different kind of disabilities and needs.

Accessibility notice in Swedish (link)
Accessibility notice in Finnish (link)
Accessibility notice in English (link)

Quiet space

We understand the need for a calm environment, and this room provides a low-light, quiet space where you can rest and follow the program at your own pace. For those who may find the large, busy space overwhelming with its many stimuli, this room offers a peaceful space. You can follow the stream the event on your personal phone or computer and follow along as needed, with the freedom to stand or move. Please remember to use headphones if you follow the stream on your own devices.

How to reach the venue?

We recommend reaching the venue using more sustainable options such as carpooling, public transportation, or biking (though we acknowledge that biking in December may be challenging).

Public transportation

Hanaholmen is served by the metro. The walking distance from the nearest metro station ”Koivusaari” to Hanaholmen is approximately 1,1 km.

In addition to the metro, Hanaholmen is served by buses  105, 121, 121A, 164 ja 164K and 192/192T/192V:

• Buses 121, 121A, 164 and 164K operate along Westway, between Helsinki city centre (Kamppi) and western Espoo, with a few minutes interval during rush hours on weekdays.
• Bus 192 (V and T busses) operates along Westway between Inkoo and Kamppi (Helsinki city centre), few times in the morning and afternoon on weekdays.
• Bus 105 works as a feeder bus between Hanaholmen and Lauttasaari metro station operating few times in an hour on weekdays.

The bus stop along the Westway is circa 400 metres from Hanaholmen.

For further details of public transport please check the Journey Planner.

By car

Hanaholmen is right next to the main Länsiväylä road (“the Westway”, route 51), a little to the West of Koivusaari and to the East of Karhusaari and Tapiola in Espoo. Hanaholmen may be reached by car from a local junction on the Westway, lying midway between Lauttasaari and the Ring I / Tapiola intersection.

There are bus stops at the junction (the GPS co-ordinates are N60º10.0 E24º50.6).  There is also a signpost at the junction indicating “Hanaholmen “. Hanaholmen is about 6 km to the West of Helsinki.

From the West: Approach Helsinki on the Westway (route 51) and follow the signpost at the Hanaholmen junction.

From the North (e.g. from the airport): Approach Helsinki and turn off at Ring I westbound. Follow the ring road to the Westway (route 51), and then drive towards Helsinki Centre. The signpost for Hanaholmen is about one kilometer after the Ring I, Westway intersection.

By taxi

Ask for Hanaholmen Cultural Centre, Espoo. The taxi journey from the city centre of Helsinki to Hanaholmen will take approximately 10 minutes; from the airport it takes approximately 40 minutes.

Please note that there is a risk of confusion, since there is a power station in East Helsinki called Hanaholmen, so be sure to ask the driver to take you to Hanaholmen Cultural Centre in Espoo.

Safeguarding

The seminar follows the principles of a safer space. Everyone shares responsibility for creating such an environment. The goal of these principles is to create an atmosphere where people can communicate effectively, participate safely, and be themselves without fear. The principles are following:

• Care and take care. Care about the people around you, how they feel and how your words and actions affect them. As a general rule, treat others as you would like to be treated. If you are pointed out about your behavior, do not trivialize it, but take it into account in the future. We all make mistakes sometimes and learn from them. Persons behaving inappropriately can be removed by the organizer. 

• Respect others. Respect the diversity of people: their different views, experiences, and backgrounds. Respect other people’s choices, identities, as well as their personal space and boundaries. 

• Think and anticipate. Don’t assume that everyone is comfortable with the same things as you. In short, don’t force anyone to do anything. 

Feel free to contact the event organizers if you need help or need support in problem situations. The appointed safeguarding officer is Aino Raiskinmäki.

Safety

• Three emergency exits in the auditorium, and they are marked with green illuminated signs.
• In the event of a fire, you should evacuate the building and gather near the parking lot.
• The Hanaholmen reception desk is available to assist you at any time.

For more information