Finnish version of Kenya’s Open golf tournament gathers momentum abroad

Golfers training for the upcoming event in Finland. PHOTO / COURTESY

FINLAND: Preparations for the annual series of Kenya Open golf tournament in Finland has gathered momentum with a pack of pledges beyond the course in Finland.

Organizers have over the past days held a series of meetings ahead of the tournament to be held in Nurmijärvi Golf centre– one of the most popular golf destinations in Finland.  “We have everything in place ready for the golf event and we have now met severally. Our sponsors and guests from Kenya too are very excited and they are waiting (sic),” said Marko Koivuneva, head of Train With the Champions (TWC), the organizing agency.

TWC is sending a team led by Joni Koivuneva to Kenya as part of the preparations in the lead up to the charity event abroad.  The agency reiterated that the charity event will be a platform to forge mutual relationship between Kenya and Finland through sports. 

This year’s event schedule for August 7 aims to beat a record 1,000 participants. Lately, preparations alone has attracted huge social media interest, a sign that organizers say will be bigger than past years.

It will be graced by Kenya’s top athletes among them Olympic gold medalist Wilfred Bungei and his compatriot commonwealth champion Silas Kiplagat. Veterans are also said to participate.

TWC has designed the tourney to cater for charity needs in Kenya. Mr Koivuneva, who is also the founder of TWC pointed out the goal of the tournament, is purely charity-oriented for less fortunate Kenyans. He underlined the need to explore co-operation between the two countries in sports tourism.

According to the tentative programme, during the tournament there will be an exhibition 10 kilometre marathon race dubbed ‘train with the champions.’

Thereafter the event will officially assume the name of guest of the day Silas Kiplagat with its charity title hinted as ‘Silas Kiplagat Park Run for FUNds.’ This Kenya open tournament here has been established on charity grounds and that is why we take 100 percent of the contributions there (Kenya),” he said.

The organizers underscored that the Kenya Open will coincide with a yet-to be confirmed summer soccer thriller between European champion and a Finnish side in Helsinki. The event has been now running for three years albeit low profile. However, it has leapt to prominence from the last one held last year attracting several businessmen, golf enthusiasts and public.

Kenyan athlete living in Finland Wilson Kirwa, officially opened the tournament teeing off the golf ball on a day that ended with prize-giving including the handing out of flight ticket to the winner.

“Kenya should be proud that non-natives out there align themselves with the nation,” Mr Kirwa said urging the state to explore sport tourism co-operation with Scandinavian countries.