26.7.2012

Ice hockey player Saku Koivu had the honour of being an Olympic Torchbearer.

This year's Olympic Torch is gold in colour and has been perforated by 8,000 circles representing the 8,000 inspirational stories of the carriers of the Olympic flame. The Torch is 80 cm tall and weighs 800 grams.

Ice hockey player Saku Koivu carried the Olympic Torch on Tuesday 24 July through the Hillingdon district of London

Three athletes from the Turku area to compete in the Olympic Games

The London Olympics will have three representatives from the Turku area competing in tennis, the equestrian dressage event, and the women's pole vault. In addition, ice hockey player Saku Koivu carried the Olympic Torch on Tuesday 24 July through the Hillingdon district of London.

The best known representative from the Turku area is Jarkko Nieminen, who is participating in his third Olympic Games. Nieminen, who  is from Masku and is a member of Turku TSV Tennis Club, reached the second round of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens and went out in the first round in Beijing four years ago.

Turku is represented in the equestrian dressage event by Mikaela Lindh, a former resident of Turku who has been living in Denmark for more than ten years. Her best placing in a major championship came at last year’s European Championships.

Hunting for success in athletics is Turku University of Applied Sciences sports student Minna Nikkanen, who is resident in Somero. She has competed in eight major competitions as an adult has improved the Finnish record in the pole vault 13 times.

Saku Koivu carried the Olympic Torch 

The Olympic Torch is carried by 8,000 people on its journey around Britain. its journey will culminate this week with  the lighting of the Olympic Flame at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Summer Olympics. The Games involve more than 10,000 athletes from over 200 countries and London is hosting the Summer Olympics for the third time.

Saku Koivu has participated in the Winter Olympics four times and is the third highest points scorer from Finland in the NHL.

• Torchbearer in Hillingdon 24 July
• The Torch won British Design Award
• The Finnish Olympic Committee’s London 2012 pages
• The London Olympics 2012

Photos: London Olympics 2012 mediabank and ducks.nhl