Sport_in_Helsinki
Helsinki has a long tradition of sports, the city gained much of its initial international recognition during the 1952 Summer Olympics, and the city has since then been very open to arranging sporting events. The Olympic Stadium is also home to the Sports Museum of Finland.[1] Helsinki hosts fairly successful local teams in both of the most popular team-sports in Finland, football and ice hockey. The later being a sport of passion for many Helsinkians, who usually take a stance for either of the local clubs HIFK or Jokerit. The strong culture of ice hockey has led to Helsinki becoming the birthplace of many legendary National Hockey League stars such as Teemu Selänne, Jari Kurri and Esa Tikkanen. American football has a strong tradition in Helsinki.
Although not as popular, rugby union is also played in the Finnish capital, which is represented by the Helsinki RC and Helsinki Warriors RC.