Every day during the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, chosen volunteers are rewarded as Volunteer of the Day. On Sunday, six volunteers were rewarded as Volunteer of the Day.
Sunday’s rewards went to Milla Varjovaara and Tuva Mikkelsen from the Information Desk, Thieja Suopajärvi and Sampsa Parviainen from the Social Media team, and Essi Aittasalo and Kati Piipari from the Sport Office.
Milla, who works at the Information Desk as well as the Volunteer Lounge, is an experienced volunteer, and an avid fan of ice hockey, and especially HIFK. She is located at the Helsinki Ice Hall. Milla tells us about what she has liked most about volunteering: “The best part of my job is to get to meet new people. I can also use my language skills with foreign guests when Finland is playing in Tampere.”
Sunday’s rewards went to Milla Varjovaara and Tuva Mikkelsen from the Information Desk, Thieja Suopajärvi and Sampsa Parviainen from the Social Media team, and Essi Aittasalo and Kati Piipari from the Sport Office.
Milla, who works at the Information Desk as well as the Volunteer Lounge, is an experienced volunteer, and an avid fan of ice hockey, and especially HIFK. She is located at the Helsinki Ice Hall. Milla tells us about what she has liked most about volunteering: “The best part of my job is to get to meet new people. I can also use my language skills with foreign guests when Finland is playing in Tampere.”
Milla Varjovaara
photo: Venla Tikkanen
Tuva Mikkelsen also works at the Information Desk, and helps hockey fans in and around the arena, and in the Fan Zones. Tuva is volunteering as a part of his curriculum. Tuva’s favourite part of volunteering is getting to talk to people, and to experience the tournament atmosphere. Tuva’s greetings to her fellow volunteers: remember to enjoy this unique opportunity. “This is a once in a lifetime thing!”
Tuva Mikkelsen
photo: Vivian Kosunen
Sampsa Parviainen volunteers in the Social Media team, where volunteers work to bring the game atmosphere to the official 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship channels @2022iihfworlds.
Sampsa has previously worked in the marking team of a sports club in Tampere and saw the tournament as a great opportunity to see how thigs work behind the scenes: “It’s interesting, also in a professional sense, to see how such a large-scale project gets done. To learn more about sports marketing and social media.”
Sampsa has previously worked in the marking team of a sports club in Tampere and saw the tournament as a great opportunity to see how thigs work behind the scenes: “It’s interesting, also in a professional sense, to see how such a large-scale project gets done. To learn more about sports marketing and social media.”
Sampsa Parviainen
photo: Sara Hukka
Thieja Suopajärvi, another social media volunteer, brings online visibility to what happens at the 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship and answers fan questions. She feels at home at the ice rinks, since she (as well as her whole family) has also played ice hockey.
Thieja’s favourite part of volunteering is being able to participate in creating the game atmosphere. She sends her wishes to all volunteers and hopes everyone is enjoying the experience. “I’d suggest that anyone who gets the opportunity to volunteer here, do so. It’s going to be a good experience.”
Thieja’s favourite part of volunteering is being able to participate in creating the game atmosphere. She sends her wishes to all volunteers and hopes everyone is enjoying the experience. “I’d suggest that anyone who gets the opportunity to volunteer here, do so. It’s going to be a good experience.”
Thieja Suopajärvi
photo: Sakari Kuokkanen
Essi Aittasalo volunteers at the Sport Office, and as a backup host for the Slovak national team. She has a lot of experience in volunteering in different sports, and she also volunteered for the IIHF World Junior Championship in 2016. “Since we are hosting the tournament again, of course I wanted to join,” Essi tells us.
Essi’s favourite part of volunteering is being included in creating something this magnificent. “When the players get an event and a tournament that they enjoy, it’s a lovely thing being part of making the experience possible for them.”
Essi tells her fellow volunteers to keep on smiling, even if sometimes the days might get long. “This is a long tournament, and there’s a lot to do, but keep a positive outlook and attitude!”
Essi’s favourite part of volunteering is being included in creating something this magnificent. “When the players get an event and a tournament that they enjoy, it’s a lovely thing being part of making the experience possible for them.”
Essi tells her fellow volunteers to keep on smiling, even if sometimes the days might get long. “This is a long tournament, and there’s a lot to do, but keep a positive outlook and attitude!”
Essi Aittasalo
photo: Julia Suuriniemi
Kati Piipari volunteers at the Sports Office in Tampere. She tells us that the team at the Sport Office has a positive can-do attitude. Kati has a lot of experience in volunteering, as she has been doing it off and on since 1994. What keeps bringing her back to volunteering are the unique experiences of the games.
The best thing in Kati’s job, to her, are the other volunteers, as well as the range of different tasks. “The atmosphere here at the arena is amazing,” she says. She likes to keep up with ice hockey especially during major tournaments and is now able to experience one herself. Kati’s greetings to other volunteers: “Big smiles, let’s do this together and enjoy!”
The best thing in Kati’s job, to her, are the other volunteers, as well as the range of different tasks. “The atmosphere here at the arena is amazing,” she says. She likes to keep up with ice hockey especially during major tournaments and is now able to experience one herself. Kati’s greetings to other volunteers: “Big smiles, let’s do this together and enjoy!”
Kati Piipari
photo: Sara Hukka