Info

We warmly welcome you to the 19th International Folksport Festival in Tampere, Finland’s largest lakeland city 14.-17.8.2025!

The Olympiad village is located right in the heart of the city, at the Central square where there are good public transport connections from everywhere. The city center is on a narrow isthmus between two large lakes but the city spreads over a wide area. Tampere has a good 249,000 residents.

Picture: Visit Tampere, Laura Vanzo

Schedule and Program

Get to know the program and schedule of the IVV Olympiads. To get all participants in the routes they want, we ask you to select the routes you plan to participate in when registering.

Walking: Start between 9.00 and 11.00 in Keskustori, return before 18 o’clock. Routes: 5/6 km, 10 km ja 20 km.

Cycling: Start between 9.00 and 11.00 in Kauppi, return before 18 o’clock. Route: 20 km.

Orienteering: between 9.00 and 18.00. You will get the map from Olympia Village and start at Keskustori. The actual check marks are in the Kauppi Sport Park.

Flag parade from Koskipuisto Park to Keskustori at 14 – 15 o’clock.

Opening ceremony at Laikun lava stage at 15 – 17 o’clock.

Walking: Start between 8.00 and 11.00 in Keskustori, return before 18 o’clock. Routes: 10 km, 20 km and 42 km.

Cycling: Start between 9.00 and 11.00 in Kauppi, return before 18 o’clock. Routes: 20 km and 40 km.

Canoeing: between 12.00 and 18.00 at Kaupinoja beach

Orienteering: between 9.00 and 18.00. You will get the map from Olympia Village and start at Keskustori. The checkmarks are situated in Kauppi Sport Park. The actual check marks are in the Kauppi Sport Park.

Walking: Start between 8.00 and 11.00 in Keskustori, return before 18 o’clock. Routes: 10 km, 20 km and 42 km.

Cycling: Start between 9.00 and 11.00 in Kauppi, return before 18 o’clock. Routes: 20 km and 40 km.

Swimming: Lake Kaukajärvi between 12.00 and 17.00.

Canoeing: between 12.00 and 18.00 at Kaupinoja beach

Orienteering: between 9.00 and 18.00. You will get the map from Olympia Village and start at Keskustori. The checkmarks are situated in Kauppi Sport Park. The actual check marks are in the Kauppi Sport Park.

Walking: Start between 9.00 and 11.00 in Keskustori, return before 16 o’clock. Routes: 5/6 km, 10 km ja 20 km.

Cycling: Start between 9.00 and 11.00 in Kauppi, return before 16 o’clock. Route: 20 km.

Orienteering: between 9.00 and 18.00. You will get the map from Olympia Village and start at Keskustori. The checkmarks are situated in Kauppi Sport Park. The actual check marks are in the Kauppi Sport Park.

Sports

Sports in IVV Olympiads in Tampere are walking, cycling, swimming, canoeing and orienteering. Get to know the sports and you may participate in every one of them!

The IVV Olympiad walking routes lead you along the shores of the lakes and green parks. The longest, 42 km route goes around Lake Pyhäjärvi, crossing it in the beautiful scenery along the Rajasalmi bridge.

Walking routes run safely on footpaths or light traffic routes. However, the participant is required to be attentive when crossing the streets.

The IVV Olympiad cycling routes lead you along the shores of the lakes and green parks. The bike routes are guided safely along bike paths. However, the participant is required to be attentive when crossing the streets.

Swimming takes place in Lake Kaukajärvi, in open water. Participants have the opportunity to warm up in the sauna after swimming.

As real Finnish sports, we want to introduce orienteering and canoeing in addition to the traditional sports: walking, cycling and swimming.

In the land of thousands of lakes, it is worth getting to know the water element also through canoeing. It is possible to do so safely at the Olympiads on Friday and Saturday from 14:00 to 18:00. The paddler is required to know how to swim. He can choose either an Canadian canoe C2 or a kayak and participate in paddling alone or with a couple.

Orienteering and paddling alone are not enough to get an Olympic medal, but both get the IVV stamp.

As real Finnish sports, we want to introduce orienteering and canoeing in addition to the traditional sports: walking, cycling and swimming.

For orientation, you can get a map from the Olympia-village in Keskustori, where the route starts.
The actual check marks are in the Kauppi Sport Park. It is possible to set off independently at the time of your choice between Thursday 14 August. at 9:00 a.m. and Sunday 17.8. 2:00 p.m. either alone or in a group whose size is not limited.

Orienteering and paddling alone are not enough to get an Olympic medal, but both get the IVV stamp.

About Us – Pirkanmaan Matkailu ry / Visit Pirkanmaa

Pirkanmaan Matkailu ry is an active player in the development of the tourism industry in the Pirkanmaa region. The association has over 90 members and was established as early as 1959. It is intended for everyone interested in tourism in Pirkanmaa.

Goals of the Association:

Increasing the attractiveness and recognition of the Pirkanmaa region
Boosting the sales of member companies
Creating and leveraging networks in tourism marketing

IVV in Finland

Pirkanmaan Matkailu ry is a member of the IVV (International Federation of Popular Sports) in cooperation with Vaasa Walking Club ry.

Suomen Latu joined the IVV organization in 1987 and organized the 5th International Popular Sports Olympiads in Vierumäki in 1997. During Suomen Latu’s era, Finlandia Walks were held in Tampere (the largest in 1990 with around 5,000 participants), and IVV routes open all year round were established elsewhere in Pirkanmaa. The City of Tampere’s mapping office marked a 10 km route around the Pyynikki Ridge and another from Kaupinoja to Rustholli on the map. In addition, there were routes from Serlachius Museums to Vuorenmaja in Mänttä and in Ellivuori.

IVV in Pirkanmaa (Tampere region)

Suomen Latu withdrew from IVV membership in 2015, at which point the Green Heart Tourism Association, together with the Vaasa Walking Club, continued the membership. In 2020, the Green Heart Association was dissolved and merged into Pirkanmaan Matkailu ry, making Pirkanmaan Matkailu an IVV member.

Pirkanmaan Matkailu ry applied for and received the right to organize the IVV Olympics in Tampere in 2025. Preparations for the event have begun, and Pirkanmaan Matkailu has secured the following partners to help with the implementation: HLU, Tampereen Pyrintö, Tampereen Taivaltajat, Tampereen Vihuri, Hiking Travel Hit ky, Vaasan Walking Club ry, Uinti Tampere, Tampereen Tapahtumatoimisto, and Visit Tampere.

The Olympics will take place from August 14th to 17th, a week after the Vaasa March, with the idea that international visitors will stay in Finland throughout the events and explore various IVV routes.

The goal for the Tampere Olympics is 3,000 participants (in 2023, San Antonio, Texas, had 1,047 participants from 42 different countries). For more information about the IVV Olympics, please contact the organizing committee’s chair, Liisa Tyllilä, at luontonoita@gmail.com or the Olympic office at info@ivvfinland.fi.

IVV in Vaasa

The most popular and oldest IVV event in Finland is the Vaasa March, held in Vaasa on the second weekend of August. It is a three-day hiking festival, with a unique IVV stamp for each day. In honor of Vaasa’s 400th anniversary in 2006, a permanent IVV route (IVV Year Around) was also established. The route is named after the association’s first chairperson, Maija-Liisa Penttinen, and is called Maija’s 10 (Maija’s 10 Km). Since 2000, a 10 km group hike has also been organized every Sunday in Vaasa, starting from the market square at 10 AM. Other hikes organized by the Vaasa Walking Club, which are announced in member newsletters and in the Vaasa newspaper’s event column, also receive their own IVV stamps. For more information: Vaasa Walking Club ry: vaasanmarssi.fi or helena.kyrolainen@netikka.fi.

Pirkanmaan Matkailu Association is actively working together with Vaasa Walking Club for the IVV Olympiads.

Picture: Visit Tampere, Laura Vanzo

FAQ – frequently asked questions

Do you have any questions? We are happy to answer! See the frequently asked questions below. If you can’t find the answer, contact us using this form.

The event is intended for everyone who cares about their own wellbeing and health.

You can pay for participation using the most common online payment methods. Payments are handled by Stripe.

Participation can be canceled by April 30, 2025, with a medical certificate. A processing fee of 50 euros will be retained for handling cancellations. You can send a request for cancellation to info@ivvfinland.fi, including your account number and the medical certificate.

The 5/6 km walking route is barrier-free.

The organizer and partners take photos and videos. The footage of the event can be used for marketing purposes.

If you need help on the routes, contact the organizers’ representatives or, if necessary, call 112. Drink enough liquid (non-alcoholic) during the walk. Use the left side of the road on roads intended for motor vehicle traffic. On footpaths, cycle paths and crosswalks, you must use the edge of the road (preferably the right edge) or follow the instructions of traffic signs. Each participant participates in the event at their own risk.

In Finland, tap water is of excellent quality and suitable for direct drinking. Finland has the cleanest tap water in the world.

By participating in the Vaasa March from August 8th to 10th, 2025, and walking there on two consecutive days either 20 km or 10 km (for those over 70), and doing the same at the Tampere IVV Olympiads, you will take part in the IML/IVV Cup and receive a special stamp and diploma for it. Read more about the rules here: https://ucarecdn.com/c716ad1e-711b-40db-b7b0-84b13c8c1b80/iml-ivv-cup-rules.pdf .

Reserve the appropriate equipment for the sport, i.e. good walking shoes and casual outdoor clothing or swimwear. The most important thing is to remember to bring a happy mood!

If you participate in cycling, you can bring your own bike or rent a bike from our partners.

August is the second warmest month in Finland. Generally, the temperature during the day in August is around 15 °C to 25 °C. It is good to prepare for rain showers. For example, you can see more detailed weather information here closer to the event.

Children are also very welcome to participate. There are no separate routes for children in the event.

However, you can only get an Olympic medal for your own performance.

IVV – Internationaler Volkssportverband is an International Volkssport Association founded in 1968 in Lindau, Germany. The founding countries were Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Today, the association is represented in more than 40 countries, and worldwide more than 3,000 member clubs organize more than 6,500 sport events every year.

The main forms of exercise are walking, cycling, swimming and cross-country skiing. More than 7 million people of all age groups participate in IVV events worldwide.
IVV’s goal is to promote friendship, peace and health with the help of sport.

Kaikki osallistumiset ja kuljetut kilometrit kirjataan IVV arvovihkoon, ns. IVV-passiin, joka on voimassa maailmanlaajuisesti. IVV liikuttaa suuria ihmisjoukkoja ja luo siten myös edellytyksiä matkailulle.

Information about the participant will not be given to a third party without the consent of the person concerned.

Participants are not insured on behalf of the organizer. We recommend taking out personal travel and accident insurance.

Yes, you can use sticks. In Nordic Walking the muscles of hands get good exercise.

Vaasa March

Our partner Vaasan Kävelyklubi organizes a three-day Vaasan March walking event on the weekend before the IVV Olympiads on 8.-10.8.2025.

By participating in the 20 km walks of the Vaasa March and Tampere IVV Olympiads on two consecutive days in both events, you participate in the IML-CUP event and receive your own certificate.

Nos iungat ambulare! Kävely meitä yhdistäköön!

Picture: Visit Tampere, Laura Vanzo

More info about the Vaasa March

Ancillary services

Other services.

Accommodation capacity has been reserved at the following hotels for participants of the IVV Olympiad. You will receive the booking codes after purchasing the Olympiad Pass.

Scandic Tampere City
It is a popular hotel located right in the city center, opposite the railway station, and well-connected to public transportation.

Scandic Tampere Station
It is a modern hotel located right next to the railway, just about 100 meters from the city center. The hotel has excellent public transportation connections.

Holiday Club Tampereen Kehräämö
The Tampere Spa Hotel is located in a historic building right on the shore of Lake Näsijärvi, close to everything.

Lapland Hotels Tampere ja Lapland Hotels Arena
Lapland Hotels Tampere offer the opportunity to experience the wonders of Lapland in the heart of the city.

A Finnish Evening on the Beautiful Island of Viikinsaari on Saturday, August 16th, 2025

After a day of sports, it’s nice to relax and enjoy the beautiful lake scenery of Tampere.

Welcome to the island! Just a twenty-minute boat ride from the center of Tampere, you will find the magnificent experience island of Viikinsaari. Viikinsaari’s lush nature, a hundred-year-old idyllic lace villa, charming sandy beaches, and nostalgic atmosphere will enchant its visitors.

The island offers a wide range of restaurant and café services, an art gallery, outdoor games, water activities, and a beautiful nature trail.

On Saturday, August 16th, 2025, Viikinsaari will host traditional Finnish ballroom dancing from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM, with live music provided by the authentic dance orchestra Pasi Kivimäki & N.Y.T.

By purchasing a ticket, you can take a boat from Laukontori dock every hour starting at 2:00 PM. Boats depart from the island every half hour.

The event is ticketed. The ticket includes the boat ride and admission to the dance event. More information and reservations https://www.hopealinjat.fi/