The first Men´s World Championship gold medal for Finland was honoured during the Finnish Sports Gala held yesterday in the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki.

Tero Tiitu´s sudden death goal was voted by the Finnish sports fans as the most heartening sport moment of year 2008. The result was made public during YLE´s Live TV broadcast from the Sports Gala where all the most influential sports persons in Finland were present.

Tero Tiitu picked up the trophy and told his feelings were almost as fantastic as when the WFC gold was settled in Prague. Tiitu also expressed his delight of the fact that the WFC victory has gained much appreciation also from outside the Floorball family in Finland.

Tero Tiitu celebrating the WFC victory in Prague in December 2008.

The first place for the Men´s WFC achievement was finally won with clear marginal in the SMS and Internet voting as it received almost 35 percent from the approximately 10 000 votes.

The Men´s national team was also a nominee for the Team of the Year, but the first place award was received by the Finnish Men´s Under 21 football team. The IFF General Secretary, Mr. John Liljelund, was a nominee for the most influential sports person in Finland, but this award was won by Mr. Tuomo Jantunen, a pioneer for Nordic Walking.

In addition the Finnish Men´s and Women´s Floorball National teams are included in the Clean Sports Star group, which forwards the message of clean sports. This anti-doping program, including many top athletes and headed by Mr. Tapio Korjus, won the “Best when clean” award.

Rickie Hyvärinen was awarded as best Floorball player of the year in Finland.