Youth championships test Pori stadium renovation as statue spear returns

Porin Stadium’s 4.2 million euro renovation will face its first major test this weekend when more than 650 athletes compete in the Finnish Youth Athletics Championships, Yle reports.

The event will also mark the return of a spear to the hand of the Matti Järvinen figure on Kalervo Kallio’s javelin thrower statue outside the stadium. The spear will be placed on the statue on Friday, 11 years after it was removed.

The spear has repeatedly been stolen or broken over several decades. After the statue and spear were repaired in 2015, the spear was not returned permanently and has been displayed only during major competitions.

The renovated stadium includes refurbished stands and new seats in the main stand. A new Mondo track surface was also installed at a cost of about 650,000 euros. The surface was more expensive than the other alternatives but was requested by the athletics community.

Jussi Ihamäki, competition director for the youth championships, said he was pleased with the renovation.

“This has become a wonderful place. The main stand with its new seats creates a great atmosphere,” Ihamäki said.

He rejected suggestions that the renovation had been carried out only because Pori will host the Kaleva Games next year. This weekend’s championships are considered a test event for those competitions, with about 260 volunteers involved.

“Almost all of Finland’s future athletics hopes and champions are here,” Ihamäki said, naming Rebekka Nelimarkka, Topi Parviainen and Ella Mikkola among the competitors.

The statue depicts Matti Järvinen, although he had no connection with Pori.