Abstract

The purpose of my presentation has been to show that efforts to strengthen the State and to achieve national unity in Finland in the 1930s were also reflected in the sports organization. This happened both through direct intervention by the State in the organization and its functions, and through agreements between the main parties acting as spokesmen for the interests of the State or the common good. The goal then was to achieve national harmony in sport. On the other hand, national security policy also required unity in sport. Briefly put, the internal security of the country did not tolerate the existence of two armies, and this necessitated the termination of the class and potential nature of the TUL. The questions posed above attempt to show that linking research on sport with theoretical research on capitalism will provide useful vantage points for study of sports history as a whole - and perhaps to increased appreciation for it as well. Verf.-Referat