Saarinen new Lahti Ski Games Secretary General

World champion and Olympic medallist in cross-country skiing, Aino Kaisa Saarinen has been chosen as the new Secretary General of the Lahti Ski Games, in charge of the event production and the supervisor of the event organisation. Saarinen will also serve as the Secretary General of the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships in Lahti in January 2019. In addition she will also be in charge of the executive producer duties at the event management company Lahti Events year-round and will take up her new duties in early August.

Emilia Mäki, Managing Director at Lahti Events, believes that Saarinen’s background will be a huge asset in the new position as she has a good understanding of the organisation and knows the people involved thanks to her background as a top athlete. “Not only does Aino-Kaisa have long-standing experience with the Lahti Ski Games but also a strong visionof how the event should look in the future.”

The former top skier is excited about her new position. Saarinen, who ended her career as a professional cross-country skier last season at Lahti Ski Games, reminisces about the amazing atmosphere of the games: “I was flattered how people came to see my performance and to cheer for me. I feel that, in a way, this is my chance to give back to the audience by being part of the event organisation and by developing the event. Lahti Ski Games is a wonderful winter tradition and the atmosphere which all friends of winter sports and their families are eagerly waiting for.”

Saarinen is planning for the event to become even more targeted at families, because she herself has unforgettable memories of the winter festival from her childhood, from her career as an athlete, as a mother and also through her children’s grandparents.

The 94th Lahti Ski Games will be held from the 8th to 10thFebruary 2019 and the FIS Nordic Junior World Ski Championships will be held shortly beforehand from 20th to 27thJanuary 2019. Lahti Events Oy will be in charge of organising the event.

It will be an action-packed season in Lahti, Finland and for Aino Kaisa Saarinen in her new capacity of Secretary General leading these important events.