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We are united by hockey and beer. But the war is stronger than the championship, says the Czech from Tampere

Johana Kuncová-Kallio, a native of Prague, has lived in Tampere for over twenty years. She found a Finnish husband, started a family and developed professionally as a director of the biomedical division of UPM-Kymmene Corp. And because she is a big sports fan, the World Hockey Championships in her place of residence is a holiday for her. In an interview with Aktuálně.cz, he talks about Finns, hockey and fears from Russia.

Tampere (from our newsletter) – In his favorite restaurant Telakka in the center of Tampere, he even has his own chair with the label “CZEkki”. Johana Kuncová came to Finland at the turn of the millennium as a student, and later her husband’s surname Kallio was added to her.

He is a leader in his field of work, in his free time he plays floorball, rides a motorcycle and sings. She fell in love with the Nordic country for many reasons. But when the time comes for the World Hockey Championship, he puts on a red jersey and cheers for the Czech national team.

She saw Czech matches against the Swedes and Americans right in the hall. He enthusiastically talks about how the love of hockey in Finland and the Czech Republic unites how the local people devour the tournament.

Although Finland is currently moving much more serious issues. The country’s bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Russia’s threats.

What brought you to Tampere twenty years ago?

I studied mechanical engineering in the Czech Republic, I went to Scotland and I realized that I wanted to finish school abroad. Many students were in Finland at the time, they praised it, there was a Nokia boom and quite a few job opportunities. I got a job at a university, a master’s degree and a doctorate, and started living in Finland.

Did you like Tampere right now?

Part of the week I work in Helsinki, part I live in Tampere. It’s like Finnish Brno. Helsinki is a big city like Prague, everything lasts there. You are almost everywhere in Tampere within fifteen minutes. It is a student city, a lot of people come back later. It’s a short walk into the woods, on a bike, on cross-country skis.

Is sport generally popular in the country’s second largest city?

Definitely. We have two hockey teams here, Tappar and Ilves. They are very popular, as is the floorball club Classic. But for me, the main attraction was the university, the job offer. Nokia was a clear driver in Finland at the time, something like Škoda in our country.

How many people in Tampere and Finland are experiencing this year’s World Cup?

Intensely. Finns love hockey, with beer these are the two main things we have in common with them. The Finns have hockey associated with the voice of the phenomenal commentator Anter Mertaranta, they pay for it on a commercial channel rather than watching it for free without it. Who can, of course, goes to the stadium, but it’s not easy. Tickets were drawn here.

Really?

The interest was huge, the onslaught on the purchase would be too great. The organizers also wanted to prevent the dealers, so they opened the draw, you could choose in advance which matches you want to see and how much money you are willing to give for the ticket. It just turned out great for the Czechs against the Swedes and the USA. Tickets are otherwise quite expensive for the Finns, it’s like going to the opera in Helsinki.

Johana Kuncová-Kallio at the match with the Swedes. | Photo: JKK archive

Is hockey fighting for attention with the war situation in Ukraine? It directly affects Finland due to efforts to join NATO and threats from Russia.

The Hockey World Championships are just such a distraction, the locals are still working on the situation. Every time a conversation with acquaintances turns to this topic. It’s not that they forget when hockey. And I must say that no one has thought about whether it is right or not, that Russia is not participating. Everyone is on the same page in this direction.

So how do they perceive the local situation?

Before the war broke out, a friend asked me if I would stay in Finland or return to the Czech Republic. And I didn’t think about it at all, I have a family and a job here. However, a couple of acquaintances may have rented at least an apartment in Spain or elsewhere to get their wives to escape. That surprised me. Other people renew their weapons passports, go to training at shooting ranges. They stockpile food and water, they prepare.

A possible Russian attack?

Not so much for the Russians to come in the dances. But more for cyberattacks, that credit cards or the Internet might not work. The government is emphasizing this to the people. The country has wanted to be neutral for a long time, but now it is clear that joining NATO is a necessity for Finland. It also helps how the Finns are disciplined as a nation. Compulsory military service still applies here, and various trainings have spread beyond the age categories.

Do you feel that the nation is possibly ready to defend itself?

Certainly. A son of my acquaintances, for example, is now joining the army. He says he is not afraid and is ready to go into battle if necessary. I see the same thing with many of my co-workers.

Let’s go back to hockey. Is the enthusiasm of the fans multiplied by the recent successes of the Finns? The national team won the World Cup 2019, last year it was silver. And this year she won the Olympics for the first time.

I would rather compare the Czech success in Nagano to the Finnish victory at the 1995 World Championships, when they won their first title. Otherwise, it is always important for the Finns to defeat the Swedes. They are still stroking, the Finns constantly feel that the Swedes are more lucky and they are doing well. They have the worst memory of 2003 and the quarterfinals of the home World Cup, which they lost 5: 6 against the Swedes from the 5: 1 lead.

At that time, a Finnish daily was published the next day with a black front page and a single word on the headline, the vulgar expression “Perkele”.

Exactly, that’s it. (smile) Overall, hockey is the biggest sport in Finland. Although I have friends who do not watch hockey, they are in the minority.

So what do you think is that the Finns are now experiencing medal harvests?

I can judge by what I see in Tampere. All children have been skating since they were little. They play in front of kindergartens, in front of schools. Most football fields serve as ice rinks in winter, freely without reservation. There are guardrails somewhere, not others, but everyone skates. In general, everyone plays sports here, which is why children get to know it earlier. Girls often play a sport called ringette next to hockey, with sticks and a rubber ring. Tampere is also the center of floorball in Finland. The local people also have a healthy attitude towards sports as fans.

Johan’s husband also answers the question: The Finns were always disciplined. What has changed in recent years is the quality of the coaches. Players are also now more technically proficient. And last but not least, he believes in victory.

How did you mean that healthy relationship from a fan standpoint?

After the Czechs won over the Finns at the 2001 World Championships, my friends and I went to a local pub and we didn’t know what to expect. But the Finns slapped us on the back, saying we were better. That’s the way it is here, people don’t play sports. In children’s teams, it follows the rule that the team is as strong as its weakest link, trying to get everyone to at least the average level. The Finns have a lot of respect for the team concept.

Johana Kuncová-Kallio at the Czech Embassy.

Johana Kuncová-Kallio at the Czech Embassy. | Photo: JKK archive

What are the Finns like? Some wear bizarre clothes, others sit side by side and sometimes cheer.

Finns as a nation are closed, it is known. It is said that when Fin is an introvert, he looks at his shoes while talking to you. And when he’s an extrovert, he looks at your shoes. (smile) But hockey and the championship always stir them up. Finnish league matches tend to be quite quiet, if it’s not Ilves and Tappara, but the World Cup will engulf everyone. Everyone will wear a national jersey at once, even a pensioner.

Are you a big hockey fan?

Of course. Friends from the Czech Republic think that I support the Finns, but I have the Czechia as number one, Slovakia is second to me, then Finland. I try to always see and hear that I am from the Czech Republic.

So you take the Tampere Championship as a big holiday?

Certainly. I was glad that a new hall was completed. Hartwall Arena in Helsinki is out for Russia, while in Tampere it really lives on hockey. When you meet Finn here and talk about hockey, he immediately asks if you are cheering for Tappara or Ilves. Everyone is experiencing it.

After all, Tappara won the Finnish league this year. Who do you wish?

I support the teams where most Czechs play. I’ve been to Tampere on both Tappara and Ilves. People perceive the rivalry of local clubs, but not in such a way that they would fight. Interestingly, Tappara and Ilves share a common hall, only the locker rooms are strictly separate and decorated in their own way.

What was your career path in Finland to the position of UPM Biomedicals Director?

After I finished my doctorate, I started selling science around the world. I had several scientific groups, selling what they came up with to industrial customers. For example, pharmaceutical companies. Then I transferred to a small company, we grew up and worked as a director there for almost ten years. During the coronavirus pandemic, I jumped into UPM, Finland’s largest woodworking company. Today, we have 17,000 employees in 46 countries. My group is working on biomedical products for tissue engineering.

In the end, are you doing something different than what you first studied?

I have already taken biomedicine to the machine shop at CTU and in Finland I have already specialized quite significantly. At UPM Biomedicals, we are now the future of the entire company. Because newspapers are still read the same, but more digitally. We started producing biofuels, biochemistry, biocomposites. Biomedicine is such a new hi-tech industry.

Do you meet other Czechs in the community in Finland?

Initially, we met in Helsinki every first Thursday of the month, where there were five Czech restaurants. As students, we mated in Tampere, played football. Then we started having children, with them the program was a little different to keep the Czech language with them. Now the children are growing up and we can see each other on beer again without them. We estimate that there are about five hundred of us in Finland. It is excellent that now Czech jerseys can be seen everywhere in Tampere, I had fun with some groups, they are enjoying the championship. The Finns have no problem with the Czechs, we really have the biggest connection through hockey and beer.

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