The Sport Academy

Kotka Sport Institute which was established in the 1991 during its thirteen years of existence offered high quality and versatile possibilities to combine studies and goal-oriented sport training for young student-athletes. The institute provides training three times a week, twice a day. Assisted by experienced coaches, each student-athlete trains following the personal training program.

Kotka Sport Institute is in fact a cooperation network which includes all the secondary schools in the city, the Vocational Institute and Kymenlaakso Polytechnic. When applying to the secondary level school or Polytechnic, students apply to the sport institute at the same time. The courses take place usually at some international coaching seminars. In August 2004 the Sport Institute signed a cooperation agreement with one of the most respected training centres in Finland, Pajulahti. This agreement makes it possible to have even more high quality athlete testing and training camps for a larger group of student athletes. Also, in the fall of 2004 doctor services, physiotherapy and fitness club services are provided to the athletes.

Recently Kotka's Sport Institute has been asked to join a very limited group of sport academies in Finland and in November 2004 it becomes Sport Academy of Southern Kymenlaakso. This means that organization will spread into larger area geographically. Also, the amount of student-athletes will increase to 250. Right now there are about 20 different sports events included. The most popular are, if counted by the number of athletes, soccer and basketball, followed by track and field. During the school year of 2003-04 dozens of athletes represented Finland's national teams in wrestling, orienteering, soccer, basketball, golf and track and field. No one did it better than Jonne Lehto by winning three World Championship gold medals in ski-orienteering in addition to the two he had won the previous year.

Operations of the Sport Institute of Kotka have been funded by the City as well as by Kymenlaakson liitto. One of the organizational goals is to provide the athletes with the best possible environment to achieve their dreams in sports.