SPORTS FEDERATION OF CENTRAL OSTROBOTHNIA/KePLi:

• non-governmental sports federation for over 50.000 people of Central Ostrobothnia
• KePLi was founded in November 1997
• the Federation acts as an umbrella organisation for all of its member organisations: sport clubs and municipalities of regions
• KePLi has 96 member organisations, the membership of which totals over 30.000 inhabitants

SPORTS IN GOOD COMPANY

• The aim on the KePLi is an equal sports culture, where all central ostrobothinans have equal opportunities to participate, act and make decisions concerning sports.
• The most important task for KePLi is to ensure a healthy social environment for the sporting society in Central Ostrobothnia and to be able to respond to the changing requirements of physically active people.
• The KePLi has chosen to operate through a vital, non-governmental activity in sports.

FINNISH SPORTS OPERATE

• On the local level -  sports clubs and other local organisations
• On the regional level - regional organisations and the regional organisations of the member organisations

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RESEARCH OF VOLUNTARY SPORTS CLUBS, ITS NECESSARY CONDITIONS AND SOCIAL IMPORTANCE IN CENTRAL OSTROBOTHNIA

Author: Petri Harsunen, Vierumäki Sports Institute  17 December 2003
Supervisor: MSc Mairit Pellinen
Degree Programme in Sports and Leisure Management, Sports Management     

The main purpose of this research was to find out most important figures of voluntary sports clubs in Central Ostrobothnia. Other important purpose was to clear  how the local municipalities support sports necessary conditions and how many sports grounds is there in Central Ostrobothnia. Thirdly aim was to study the social importance of sports for example influence of employing. The main problems of this thesis were:

* Which are the main important figures of voluntary sports clubs in Central Ostrobothnia?
* What are the necessary conditions for going in for sports in municipalities of region?
* How remarkable was the employing of sports and leisure and also its voluntary sports and  professional sports in Central Ostrobothnia?

The subjects of research were the officials of sports in municipalities of  the Sports Federation of Central Ostrobothnia. The data collection gathered with questionnaire in the summer 2003. It was completed the data collection with some questionnaires to sport clubs and the searches of information in internet.

The findings of research indicate that there are 272 sports clubs in Central Ostrobothnia.  In these clubs there is activity in 67 sports events. In Central Ostrobothnia there are 55 all-round sports clubs, in which the members train three or more sports events. The sports clubs have over 55.600 members, which means that  31.3 % of inhabitants belong to sport clubs in Central  Ostrobothnia. That is  6-10 % higher than the average among  Finnish people.

Also the results of the research indicates, that there is over 1509 different sports grounds in Central Ostrobothnia.  The findings show that there is one sports ground for every 118 inhabitants. In the city of Kokkola there are the most comprehensive and versatile sports grounds (175 different sports grounds).

The operating cost of  sports board in municipalities are 65.1 euros per capita in the year 2002. The public funds for sport clubs in municipalities are 3.75 euros per capita in 2002.
The results of research indicate that sports sector has 412 employees in Central Ostrobothnia.  The maintenance of sports grounds is the biggest  employee. There is over  one fifth of employers.The third sector  employ over third  of  whole employees in sports its 138 persons. In Kokkola there is the third deal of  sport employees in Central Ostrobothnia. The sector of professional sport will employ almost 40 people in Central Ostrobothnia.

The foundation for operations in sports clubs is an active and cooperative board  of sport  on municipal level. The meaning of  the new law of sports is that the municipalities should support  the sport organizations, which organize the activities for people. The sports grounds and its maintenance  are the best way to support the activities of sports clubs.

Key words:Action of voluntary sports clubs,  Central Ostrobothnia, sport of board in municipality, action of sports clubs, action of sports events on regional level

Additional information
Sports Federation of Central Ostrobothnia
Petri Harsunen
chief executive officer
telephone: +35868321 321
e-mail:petri.harsunen@kepli.com
internet:www.kepli.com