A new world record was made, as 26,000 dogs and approximately 50,000 people entered to the three international dog shows in December 2013, which together formed the Koira2013 event.
In August 2014, the dog shows will become even more international with The FCI World Dog Show. The event is expected to attract 20,000 canines from around the world. The Finnish Kennel Club is taking the organising of these events seriously.
How does Messukeskus Helsinki fare as an arena for major world-class dog shows?
“On a global level, the Messukeskus Helsinki premises are competitive, to say the least. Messukeskus Helsinki is clean, well-lit, modern, the technology works, services work, safety is taken care of and the signposting is clear. It is centrally located and easily accessible. It is easy to arrive either by public transport or with your own car. We can provide everything you need, from restaurants to hotel services,” says Kaija Unhola, Communications Manager at the Finnish Kennel Club.
Unhola says that the Finnish people’s competence of organising events also applies to dog shows.
“The reputation of well-organised events has spread all over the world. Now we are reaping the harvest of earlier successes,” says Unhola.
Strong Know-How Is Key
The FCI World Dog Show will be held in August 2014. The previous time this event was held in Finland was in 1998, and it was a great success. Finland and Finnish people have an impressive track record in organising international events.
“After 1998, the term “Helsinki standard” was created. It means a model for others of how to organise The FCI World Dog Show,” says Unhola. “We did not think we were going to get to organise the event in Finland again 15 years later since competition to organise the Show is tough. We decided to try and see if our reputation would bear fruit, and eventually it did. We were able to get the event to Messukeskus Helsinki again. The brand of Finland proved its mettle once again,” she continues.
The application process is hard, and the competition in the final stretch is tough. The spirit was akin to that of applying for sport world championships. You need comprehensive and high-quality presentation material and demonstrations of your strengths, says Unhola. The decision was made in 2010, after which it was time to start planning. The venue was the first thing to be reserved. We had such impressive experiences of Messukeskus Helsinki from the past that the choice was easy. We have succeeded here brilliantly before.
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Founded in 1889, the Finnish Kennel Club is the oldest dog organisation in the Nordic Countries. With more than 148,000 members, it is a big canine organisation even by international standards. The Finnish Kennel Club also serves as the umbrella organisation for 1,800 Finnish hobby dog associations.
