World Rally Championship a shot in the arm for Jyväskylä region

The biggest annual sporting event held in the Nordic countries once again brings the rally circus to central Finland. The recession only goes to underline the economic significance of the rally weekend for the Jyväskylä region.

Neste Oil Rally is enticing hundreds of thousands of rally tourists to Jyväskylä once again. The visit of the rally fraternity provides a major shot in the arm for the city's business life and for various organizations.The City of Jyväskylä is aware of the importance of the rally to the region's business life and its image.

- Neste Oil Rally is functionally, economically and image-wise an extremely important international event. Hundreds of thousands of rally visitors fill the accommodation and restaurant services and various businesses in the Jyväskylä region and leave behind them about 17 million euros, says Markku Andersson, the Mayor of Jyväskylä.

During rallies the troops behind the scenes from sports clubs and associations are kept busy. The lion's share of many associations' annual budgets is covered by voluntary work done during rallies, payment for which is made to the association, not its members.

- For hundreds of thousands of volunteers the Neste Oil Rally is one of the highlights of the season. Various associations collect money for their activities thanks to the event. It really is an important event for the city and the its citizens, Andersson continues.