By Sport is not as important for the Finnish national identity as it once was, the liberal daily Kaleva observes with reference to the Olympic Games in Sochi:
Sport is still important for the Finns, and arouses their emotions. They follow the events and discuss the competitions, worship the winners and curse the losers. But the citizens’ interests when it comes to sport are increasingly diverging. There is no longer a single sport, like cross-country skiing or ski-jumping, that brings everyone together and arouses the whole nation’s passion.
… After the war sport took on a major role because it strengthened the nation’s self-confidence and sense of unity. For this reason society made enormous investments in sport. It served as a motor for patriotism. Now different ways must be found to boost self-confidence and unity.
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