13/08/2024

High-quality logistics behind Olympic cargo

CHS Air & Sea has taken care of the cargo of several winter and summer Olympics for years. Successful goods transport requires careful planning and seamless cooperation.

Finnish Olympic Committee customer manager Lauri Ijäs considers CHS's support for the Olympic and Paralympic teams to be of primary importance.

– Kun logistiikka sujuu hyvin ja suunnitelmien mukaan, se voi tuntua itsestään selvältä. Kuljetuksen aikana voi kuitenkin tapahtua yhtä ja toista niin maalla kuin merelläkin.

Pariisin rahtitoimitukset sujuivat todella hyvin ja olemme olleet erittäin tyytyväisiä CHS:n kuljetuspalveluun. Kun joukkueilla on oikea-aikaisesti käytössään kaikki se, mitä tarvitaan, tuemme parhaiten urheilijoiden keskittymistä siihen tärkeimpään, omiin kisasuorituksiin.

The preparation of the Olympic cargo for the Paris Games started in good time at the beginning of the year, says CHS' key account manager Jason Kelppe.

- Both the schedule of the games and strict security measures had to be considered when planning the cargo. The finalization of cargo preparations for the Olympics begins when we receive cargo instructions from the competition organizers. According to this, we decide the final routes and schedules. Each competition event is a different and always interesting project.

- The joint container of the Olympic and Paralympic teams was transported to Paris as road freight. In the competition village in Paris, the container serves as a warehouse, from which the Finnish team obtains supplies. In addition to the joint container, we arranged temperature-controlled transportation for food. This separate transport continued from Paris to Marseille, where the sailors and coaches also had their own container, which served as a lounge for the games. The container also served as a storage space for sailing and gym equipment.

Olympic partnership means a lot more to a Finnish company than delivering the cargo to the competition city and back.

CHS marketing manager Marianne Harjula:

- This is the kind of comprehensive partnership in which our logistics experts are happy and proud to be involved. In addition to Jason, Special Service Supervisor Lauri Heikkinen and warehouse supervisor Jere Björninen personally participated in packing the goods together with Liisa Ahlqvist-Lehkosuo, who is responsible for the logistics of the Olympic Committee, and customer manager Lauri Ijäs.

- Packing together has brought the whole team a great we-spirit. The good mood for the entire staff of our office is increased by the knowledge that with the help of the partnership we can concretely help and encourage the entire Finnish team and support sports for children and young people in Finland, says Harjula.

Next, the Paralympics will be held at the Paris competition arenas (August 28-September 8). The goods and equipment of the competition village are ready, waiting for the para sports team arriving from Finland.

Finland's Paralympic team 2024

In accordance with the responsibility program of the Paris Games, the teams can donate the goods left unnecessary after the Games to the donation points designated by the competition organizer.

As for freight, the project is now halfway through and CHS will naturally take care of the return freight back to Finland in September after the Paralympics are over. In the teams' common container, goods will be sent to Helsinki that the teams will still need in training and in the upcoming competitions.

Read more about the topic / news from the Finnish Olympic Committee about high-quality logistics cooperation with CHS here.