The sauna is one thing in life that Finns treasure above all others – something that unifies them more than church, ice hockey or even motorsports. So, while winning a sauna competition might be trivial matter in any other nation, it is a serious declaration of war for Finns.

The Guinness World Record title for ‘most nationalities in a sauna’ finally returned to Finland in 2009. This homecoming was national and historical landmark. The feat was achieved on 8 November in one of the oldest and largest sea fortresses in the world, on Suomenlinna island, in the largest genuine sauna in the world, belonging to the Finnish Navy.

Students at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, in Helsinki, came up with the record-breaking idea. Their institution has full-time students from 100 different countries, which was ideal for an attempt at a new Guinness World Record.

For the World Sauna Challenge, the university formed a team of students and staff to arranging the attempt and they recruited number of high-profile sponsors. The team never lost sight of the meaning of the challenge and each team member had two goals in mind: to have fun; and to motivate the students from 100 nationalities to join their efforts to restore Finland’s national pride.

HT
Julia Sheremetyeva