Stora Enso to sponsor the Lahti2017 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
STORA ENSO OYJ PRESS RELEASE 24 September 2015 at 12.00 EET
The Finnish city of Lahti will host the Nordic World Ski Championships in 2017 for a record seventh time. The Championships will take place between 22 February and 5 March 2017. The pre-World Championships, World Cup games in cross country skiing, ski jumping and Nordic combined will be held on 19-21 February 2016, also in Lahti.
“This collaboration is especially important to Stora Enso because we have a long history in Finland even before the country’s independence in 1917,” says Karl-Henrik Sundström, CEO of Stora Enso. “We are honoured to have a role in creating a successful international sports event in the year that Finland celebrates 100 years of independence.”
“Sponsoring the Nordic World Championships in Lahti is a great match for us because our roots are in the Nordic forests where cross country skiing takes place. We can contribute greatly to a sustainable event with our renewable materials: packaging, biomaterials, wood products and paper. We have very positive experiences from the Nordic World Ski Championships 2015 in Falun, Sweden, to build on,” Sundström concludes.
“We are very happy to start co-operation with Stora Enso in building a successful and sustainable international event. Together we can create excellent customer experience to all of our guests, from athletes to spectators, says Janne Leskinen, Secretary General of Lahti2017 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.
“We are pleased to bring to a new level our excellent cooperation with Stora Enso,” adds Ingolfur Hannesson, Head of Winter Sports at Eurovision (EBU), holders of the media and marketing rights for Lahti2017. “Our policy is to work closely with companies who are willing to contribute before, during and after the Championships to ensure we leave a positive footprint that will endure for many years after the event itself.”
“Stora Enso firstly showed its commitment to the Nordic disciplines as sponsor of the World Cup 2014 and World Championships 2015 in Falun. We are delighted that the company’s next step is their involvement in the 2017 Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti,” commented Marcel Looze, Marketing Manager of International Ski Federation.
For further information, please contact:
Ulrika Lilja, EVP, Global Communications, tel. +46 72 221 92 28
Liisa Nyyssönen, SVP Communications Paper division and Finnish media, tel. +358 40 544 3491
Lahti2017: Secretary General Janne Leskinen, +358 400 300 930, janne.leskinen@lahti2017.fi
Joint press conference of Lahti2017 organisation and Stora Enso in Helsinki
The event will take place at the Bank Event Arena (Unioninkatu 20, Helsinki) on Thursday 24 September 2015 at 12.00 EET. Stora Enso’s CEO Karl-Henrik Sundström and CFO Seppo Parvi will be present at the press conference.
Stora Enso is a leading provider of renewable solutions in packaging, biomaterials, wood and paper on global markets. Our aim is to replace non-renewable materials by innovating and developing new products and services based on wood and other renewable materials. We employ some 27 000 people in more than 35 countries, and our sales in 2014 were EUR 10.2 billion. Stora Enso shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki (STEAV, STERV) and Stockholm (STE A, STE R). In addition, the shares are traded in the USA as ADRs (SEOAY) on the International OTCQX over-the-counter market. storaenso.com
Lahti will be hosting the Nordic World Ski Championships for a record seventh time. The year 2017 also marks the centenary of Finland’s independence. Lahti2017 aims to create an event where everybody will feel at home, and an experience which will combine the excitement of the World Championships with excellent side events and customer service.
STORA ENSO OYJ
For further information, please contact:
Ulrika Lilja, EVP, Global Communications, tel. +46 72 221 92 28
Liisa Nyyssönen, SVP Communications Paper division and Finnish media, tel. +358 40 544 3491