President Niinistö at the Olympic Games in London

President Sauli Niinistö and Mrs Jenni Haukio talking with Emilia Pikkarainen, Noora Laukkanen and Jenna Laukkanen, members of Finland’s swimming team, at the reception hosted by the Finnish Ambassador to London, Pekka Huhtaniemi.  Photo: LehtikuvaPresident Sauli Niinistö and Mrs Jenni Haukio talking with Emilia Pikkarainen, Noora Laukkanen and Jenna Laukkanen, members of Finland’s swimming team, at the reception hosted by the Finnish Ambassador to London, Pekka Huhtaniemi. Photo: Lehtikuva

President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö and Mrs Jenni Haukio attended the Olympic Games in London between 27 and 31 July 2012. During the first days of the Games President Niinistö followed the performance of Finnish athletes in various sports and visited the athletes at the Olympic Village.

On the last day of the visit, Tuesday, 31 July, the events followed by President Sauli Niinistö and Mrs Jenni Haukio included swimming, with Emilia Pikkarainen competing in the women’s 200 metres butterfly and Matti Mattsson in the men’s 200 metres breaststroke.

On Monday the presidential couple visited the media centre and Olympic studio of YLE, Finland’s national broadcasting company. They also visited the Olympic Village and met athletes with Finnish Olympic Committee Sports Director Kari Niemi-Nikkola. In the evening the presidential couple attended Finland’s Olympic reception at the residence of the Finnish Ambassador to London, Pekka Huhtaniemi.

Warm atmosphere at the Finnish Church in London

“The warmth of your reception leaves me thinking that Finns become less reserved when living abroad,” President Niinistö said during the visit to the Finnish Church in London on Sunday, 29 July. The event was attended by around two hundred members of the Finnish community, and the atmosphere was full of warmth and immediacy.

Rector Teemu Hälli, the head of the 140-year-old Church, dedicated a pair of chairs to the presidential couple.

On Saturday the events followed by President Niinistö included judo, in which Valtteri Jokinen made it through to the top 16 in the men’s under 60 kg division. The day’s programme also included badminton, with Anu Nieminen competing in the women’s singles at the Wembley Arena.

The trip started on Friday, 27 July with a reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace, which was followed by the opening ceremony at the Olympic Stadium.

Pictures

 The presidential couple on their way to the reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace on Friday, 27 July.   Photo: Lehtikuva  President Sauli Niinistö and Mrs Jenni Haukio following the match of judoka Valtteri Jokinen in the men’s under 60 kg division on Saturday, 28 July 2012.  Photo: Lehtikuva  The presidential couple applauding the performance of Finnish tennis star Jarkko Nieminen at Wimbledon. Photo: Lehtikuva
            President Sauli Niinistö and Mrs Jenni Haukio visited the Finnish Church in London to greet members of the Finnish community. “The warmth of your reception leaves me thinking that Finns become less reserved when living abroad,” President Niinistö said.  Photo: Lehtikuva  Presidentti Sauli Niinistö ja puoliso Jenni Haukio vierailivat President Sauli Niinistö and Mrs Jenni Haukio visited the Finnish Church in London to greet members of the Finnish community. They were welcomed by Sakari Lehmuskallio, Secretary General of the Finnish Seamen’s Mission (right), and Rector Teemu Hälli from the Finnish Church in London (left).  Photo: Lehtikuva  President Sauli Niinistö and Mrs Jenni Haukio visited the Finnish Church in London to greet members of the Finnish community.  Photo: Lehtikuva
 Finnish Olympic Committee Sports Director Kari Niemi-Nikkola (left) and President Roger Talermo (background) welcomed the presidential couple to the Olympic Village.   Photo: Lehtikuva   President Sauli Niinistö and Mrs Jenni Haukio attended the reception hosted by the Finnish Ambassador to London, Pekka Huhtaniemi, on Monday, 30 July 2012.  Photo: Lehtikuva  President Sauli Niinistö and Mrs Jenni Haukio talking with Emilia Pikkarainen, Noora Laukkanen and Jenna Laukkanen, members of Finland’s swimming team, at the reception hosted by the Finnish Ambassador to London, Pekka Huhtaniemi.   Photo: Lehtikuva
 The presidential couple talking with football coach Roy Hodgson at the reception hosted by the Finnish Ambassador to London, Pekka Huhtaniemi.   Photo: Lehtikuva  Markswoman Mira Suhonen (left), gymnast Annika Urvikko and markswoman Marjo Yli-Kiikka talking with the presidential couple at the reception hosted by the Finnish Ambassador to London, Pekka Huhtaniemi.   Photo: Lehtikuva