Finland’s Olli Rissanen inducted into World Curling Hall of Fame

Top level European competition has returned to Finland with the staging of the Le Gruyère AOP European Curling Championships 2024 in Lohja, and on the opening day of competition, one of the real giants of Finnish curling was recognised and celebrated.

In a special ceremony held as part of the opening formalities, Olli Rissanen was inducted into the World Curling Hall of Fame in the “Builder” category by World Curling Board member David Sik. This is the highest non-playing honour that World Curling can bestow, and Olli’s achievements over the years make him an obvious candidate for this special award.

World Curling Hall of Fame award © World Curling / Stephen Fisher

Olli started playing curling outdoors in 1984 in the Finnish city of Vantaa. In 1987, he joined the Finnish Curling Association board and became its President in 1997. His term as President lasted for 22 years and during his time, he was an integral part of several landmark moments for Finnish and European curling. For example, the Finnish Curling Association organised the European Curling Championships in 2001 and the first ever combined world mixed doubles championship and world senior championships in 2008, both in Vierumaki.

In 2006, Olli was team leader of the Finnish men’s team that won Olympic silver in Turin. In the ensuing ‘curling boom’ in Finland, he was the ambassador for the sport that everyone suddenly wanted to talk to. He was travelling around the country to consult and help cities where new curling rink projects started to pop up. Thanks to Olli, the Kisakallio Sports Institute began to organise World Curling competitions, which has led to a fruitful co-operation over the years. Olli also did a remarkable job in supporting the building of the Oulunkylä Curling Rink in Helsinki.

Rissanen accepts his award from World Curling Board Director David Šik © World Curling / Stephen Fisher

In addition to his work for Finnish Curling, Olli served as President of the European Curling Federation, starting in 2011, and was also a member of the World Curling Governance Commission between 2013 and 2016.

Speaking before he stepped onto the ice to deliver the ceremonial first stone and receive his Hall of Fame award, Olli explained that his accolade had come as a complete surprise.

“I got a letter from World Curling about a week ago and I almost fell out of my chair because this was so unexpected.” And his reaction? “I just feel very humble – it’s hard to express how much I appreciate it. I feel so honoured to have a place among so many famous people – I would say this is the highlight of my curling career. And this highlight is not only for me, but for my family and friends too. Plus, it’s so nice that it happens here on the ‘home field’. That’s the cherry on the top of the cake.”

Perhaps the best way to sum up Olli’s feelings about his contributions to national and world curling came with his closing remarks at his inauguration ceremony, “At the end of the day you may leave curling, but curling never leaves you.”