Sports and Recreation

Jyväskylä is a sporting paradise for all interested in physical well-being. The city encourages everyone from babies to the elderly to adopt an active lifestyle. There are a great number of disciplines to choose from whether your interest lies in serious competition or just gentle exercise.

The City of Jyväskylä has approximately 360 sports venues that range from multipurpose halls to nature trails. Top athletes can prepare for competition in about 70 different sports thanks to well-equipped training facilities and high-quality coaching. In addition to the numerous sports facilities, there are lakes and forests within walking distance to enjoy the great outdoors.

The city is responsible for providing suitable conditions for sports and recreation, and it also arranges certain physical activities. The City Sports Services organises for example swimming lessons and adapted physical activities for people with special needs and the elderly. Moreover, approximately 220 local sports clubs and other communities as well as the private wellness sector provide the city’s inhabitants and visitors with diverse opportunities for being physically active.

Jyväskylä enjoys an inspiring sporting culture. The atmosphere is constantly spiced with sporting occasions ranging from local events to the Neste Oil Rally Finland every August. The scientific research and education institutions like the university’s Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, contribute greatly to Jyväskylä’s reputation as a forerunner of sports and recreation in Finland.