Finland Convention Bureau (FCB), which belongs to the Finnish Tourist Board, has granted the 2011 Pro Congress award to Paavo V. Komi, Professor at the Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyvaskyla. The award now granted for the seventh time, is presented annually to a person or organisation that has earned credit by inviting and setting up international congresses in Finland. The award was presented at an event organised by FCB at the Hotel Crowne Plaza in Helsinki, on Tuesday night, 5 April.
Internationally renowned researcher and scientist
Since the 1970s, Professor Komi has contributed to the organisation of dozens of congresses, mostly held in Jyvaskyla and Vuokatti. Lately, the international regard for Komi as a sport and health scientist, and the activeness of the department led by him have helped in getting the world’s largest fitness and recreational sports congress, the 13th World Sport for All event in Finland. The congress held in June last year had 592 delegates from 85 countries.
Congress know-how for the next generations
According to the FCB committee of experts who selected the grantee, Professor Komi has actively advanced the congress readiness of young scientists in his field by encouraging them to participate in demanding congress projects. As proof of this there have been several other sport congresses organised in Finland, where the applicants have been PhDs graduated from the Department of Biology of Physical Activity at the University of Jyvaskyla.
