OP Pohjola and the Finnish Tennis Association have agreed to continue the cooperation launched in 2023 with the aim of promoting youth sports and the joy of exercise and introducing tennis as a sport to more children and young people. This collaboration is part of OP Pohjola's Hippo sports school concept, which offers opportunities to try out sports and discover the joy of exercise for children. The concept is put into practice in cooperation with six national sports associations and sports clubs.
The Finnish Tennis Association and OP Pohjola have agreed to extend the cooperation until the end of 2028. At the heart of the cooperation is the Hippo Street Tennis concept, which brings tennis to schools and kindergartens around Finland.
Hippo Street Tennis is comprised of the Hippo Street Tennis Tour, which brings tennis to schools and kindergartens around Finland, and ten separate Hippo Street Tennis events. The tour and events will be organised in cooperation with local tennis clubs and OP Pohjola. The tour visits more than 100 schools and kindergartens every year and gives more than 15,000 children the opportunity to try out tennis.
Both the Finnish Tennis Association and OP Pohjola have been extremely satisfied with the cooperation and how Hippo Street Tennis has been received at schools and kindergartens and inspired children to exercise in great numbers every year. Schools and kindergartens have adopted the concept, and local sports clubs are doing outstanding work across Finland in promoting the joy of exercise and tennis as a sport. The goal of the Hippo Street Tennis concept is to make tennis known among children and teachers at schools and kindergartens and to encourage children to join a tennis club as a hobby.
"We are delighted about the opportunity to continue the cooperation with OP Pohjola in promoting sports and the joy of exercise among children. Promoting physical exercise remains a topical issue with social importance, and we want to help make a difference and improve physical activity and wellbeing among children across Finland," says Teemu Purho, CEO of the Finnish Tennis Association.
"At OP Pohjola, we want to show the way to a better future and ensure the health and wellbeing of children and young people. The Hippo Street Tennis concept and cooperation with the Finnish Tennis Association is a concrete way for us to increase wellbeing and offer opportunities for sports and exercise for children nationwide," says Timo Ritakallio, President and Group CEO of OP Pohjola.
More information:
Teemu Purho, CEO, Finnish Tennis Association
teemu.purho(at)tennis.fi, +358 40 523 1797
Päivi Svens, Chief Brand Officer, OP Pohjola
paivi.svens(at)op.fi, +358 40 526 0235
Maija Ghraizi, Producer, OP Pohjola
maija.ghraizi(at)op.fi, +358 50 590 5033