Harjun stadium opens ahead of Kalevan Games

Jyväskylä’s Harjun stadium has opened three weeks before the Kalevan Games, following a renovation that lasted over 18 months, Yle reports.

Athletes from Jyväskylän Kenttäurheilijat (JKU) accessed the upgraded facility for the first time on Wednesday. Sprinter Aino Pulkkinen called the return to her home track “wonderful” after a year and a half of waiting.

The stadium’s old grandstand was almost entirely demolished, with the new main stand now holding nearly 3,000 spectators. The €13 million project, including €750,000 in state funding, also involved resurfacing the tracks. Pole vaulter Tommi Järvenpää praised the new runways and pits as “excellent.”

Esa Kaihlajärvi, competition director for the Kalevan Games and JKU’s vice chairman, described the stadium as “Finland’s Eugene,” referencing the renowned track in Oregon, USA. He expects 8–10 stadium records to fall during the event.

Official opening ceremonies are set for July 4, with technical tests during the Harju Cup on July 5–6. The stadium remains under final outfitting, though the city has taken ownership.

JKU, Finland’s top athletics club, aims to reach European elite level. The club has won the Kalevan Malja trophy seven times in the past decade, with only one loss in that span. Improved facilities, including the upcoming Hippos sports center, support its ambitions.