The official celebration of the 60-year old Jukola was held on the main stage early Saturday evening.
The chairman of the Council of City of Tampere gave the greeting of the the City of Tampere.He thanked all the volunteers for their efforts to a successful event. He emphasised that Jukola Relay has its own characteristics being a major event belonging to the Nordic summer.
- The Jukola Relay is run in the nightless night in a Finnish woods. Even if you don't reach the podium or be part of the top teams, everyone has many unique memories and experiences to be brought home, described Paavola the event.
Paavola reminisced the Jukola Relay held 22 years ago in the same area and reminded that the dimensions of the event have tremendously increased within the two decades.
- Hopefully, the next time the Jukola Relay will be competed in Siikakangas in Tampere in two decades and with new voluntary staff, said Paavola.
 The message is ready to be forwarded
The chairman of the Kaukametsäläiset gave the message of Jukola to Simo
Martomaa representing the winning team of last year Kalevan Rasti, who
on his part forwards it to the anchor of the winning team. According to
the tradition, he reads the message aloud soon after finishing the race.
- Since the second Jukola Relay, the runners have carried the message
with them, which each year is dedicated to some group, community or
institution. The declaration includes a message of a current topic
which attracts the attention of the public, explained Uljas about the
background of the message.
The Olympic Flag celebrates the Jukola Relay
Along the Jukola and Finnish flags, also the Olympic flag flies in the competition center signalling that this year the event is organised in the protection of the International Olympic Committee.
The secretary general Jouko Purontakanen from the Finnish Olympic Committee stated that the
special status was given to the Jukola event in order to honour the biggest sports event in Finland.
- The number of participants of the Jukola Relay first run in 1949 has increased from the 287 competitors of the first year to over 14 000 participants. The founders of the relay would certainly be glad if they could be testifying the quality and vitality of the 60-year old event, said Purontakanen.
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