page_title: Jyväskylä
section_title: Sports
hierarchical_section_title: Jyväskylä / Sports
caption_attribution_description: English: The 2014 Bandyliiga Final was played at the Raksila artificial ice rink in Oulu. The final was played between Oulun Luistinseura (OLS) and Jyväskylän Seudun Palloseura(JPS), OLS got the championship with the result 4-2.Suomi: Bandyliigan finaali 2014 pelattiin Raksilan tekojääradalla Oulussa. Finaalissa pelasivat OLS ja JPS, OLS voitti mestaruuden tuloksella 4-2.
context_page_description: Jyväskylä is a city and municipality in Finland in the western part of the Finnish Lakeland. It is located about 150 km north-east from Tampere, the third largest city in Finland; and about 270 km north from Helsinki, the capital of Finland. Jyväskylä is the largest city in the region of Central Finland and on the Finnish Lakeland.
  Elias Lönnrot, the compiler of the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala, gave the city the nickname "Athens of Finland". This nickname refers to the major role of Jyväskylä as an educational centre.
  The works of the most famous Finnish architect Alvar Aalto can be seen throughout the city. The city hosts the Neste Oil Rally Finland, which is part of the World Rally Championship. It is also home of the annual Jyväskylä Arts Festival.
  As of 31 January 2019, Jyväskylä had a population of 141,374. The city has been one of the fastest growing cities in Finland during the 20th century.
  In 1940, there were only 8,000 inhabitants in Jyväskylä. The Jyväskylä sub-region includes Jyväskylä, Hankasalmi, Laukaa, Muurame, Petäjävesi, Toivakka, and Uurainen.
context_section_description: The University of Jyväskylä is the only university in Northern Europe with a faculty of sports. The faculty has been a key player to develop a strong sports culture in the city.
  The city hosts the Neste Oil Rally Finland (formerly known as the 1000 Lakes Rally). It is the biggest annually organised public event in the Nordic countries, gathering over 500,000 spectators every year. The rally has been held since 1951, first as a national competition, then from 1959 on as a European Rally Championship event and since the introduction of the World Rally Championship in 1973, as Finland's WRC event.
  Ice hockey venue Synergia-areena, Hippos Finnish baseball stadium, swimming hall AaltoAlvari, and many other primary sport venues of the city are located in Hippos, two kilometres (1.2 miles) away from the city centre. The Matti Nykänen ski jumping hill is located next to the Laajavuori ski resort just few kilometres west from the city centre. The main football stadium lies on the slopes of Harju just next to the city centre. The Killeri hippodrome on the western parts of the city serves different horse racing competitions. At winter time, amateur ice skaters can practice their skills in Viitaniemi or on the lake Jyväsjärvi, which has a 3.5 km (2.2 mi) long ice skating track.
  The inventor of Finnish national sport pesäpallo, Lauri "Tahko" Pihkala, studied and lived in Jyväskylä. The Upper secondary school of Jyväskylän Lyseo hosted the historic event of first pesäpallo match in world in September 1920.
  Sports teams from Jyväskylä include:
  JYP plays in the top-tier Finnish men's ice hockey league, SM-liiga. The team was the 2009 and 2012 Finnish Champion. The team also won the European Trophy in 2013 and the European Champions Hockey League tournament in 2018.
  JyPK, Jyväskylän Pallokerho is a women's football team, playing as of 2020 in Kansallinen Liiga, the premier division of Finnish football.
  FC Vaajakoski plays in Kakkonen, the third tier of the Finnish football league system.
  FC Blackbird and Jyväskylän Jalkapalloklubi (JJK Jyväskylä) play in Kolmonen, the fourth tier of the Finnish football league system. JJK played in the premier division Veikkausliiga in 2017.
  Jyväskylän Seudun Palloseura (JPS) plays in the highest bandy division, bandyliiga, and won in 2019 the national championship for the first time. Their home arena is the Vehkalammen kenttä.
  Jyväskylä Track and Field Club (JKU) is one of the leading track and field clubs in Finland.
  Jyväskylän Kiri is the most successful Finnish baseball team in history. Currently they play in the top division Superpesis.
  Jyväskylän Saukot plays water polo in the Finnish top division both in men and women.
  Kampuksen Dynamo (KaDy) plays futsal in the Finnish top league.
  Kirittäret holds ten Finnish Championships in women's Finnish baseball league. Latest championship is from summer 2010.
  Jyväskylän seudun Jaguaarit plays in the top division of Finnish American football league.
  Happee plays floorball in the Finnish top division both in men's and women's league. Men's Finnish Championship in 2014.
  Hongikon Nuorisoseuran Urheilijat plays basketball in the Finnish first division in men's league and in women's league
  Jyväskylä Freestyle Club is the main freestyle skiing club.
  Jyväskylä Ski Club (JHS) is one of the most well known cross-country skiing, ski-jumping, alpine skiing, snowboarding, Nordic combined and biathlon clubs in Finland.
  Meloiloa Canoe Club: plays canoe polo, and practices whitewater slalom, canoe racing, wildwater canoeing and marathon kayaking..
  Jyväskylä Rugby Club: plays rugby union (rugby) at the highest national league. Former national champions.
  Jyväskylän Fight Club: is the city's most successful martial arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy.
  Jigotai: is the biggest martial arts club in Central Finland. (judo, karate, kickboxing, t'ai chi, aikido, taido etc.)
  Mukwan is a well-known Taekwondo martial arts club in Jyväskylä since 1984.
  Liikunnan Riemu plays futsal in the Finnish top league since 2013.
  Jyväskylän Liitokiekkoilijat Ry (JyLi Ry) competes in Ultimate, Dis
caption: Jyväskylän Seudun Palloseura won the national bandy title in 2019. Here in the 2014 final.
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