REGION OF SPORTS AND CULTURE
The region of Päijät-Häme is characterised by sports and culture. The city of Lahti is internationally known to anyone interested in sports. Since 1926 the World Championships in cross-country skiing have been organised here for numerous times. In year 2001 the Nordic Ski World Championships will be arranged again in Lahti. Also the annual "Salpausselkä-Games" stimulate this winter resort´s development.
During the summer months Päijät-Häme turns into a touristic area where tourists and local people spend their holidays living in summer cottages at the lake shores, enjoying lake scenery, nature and peacefulness.
The region of Päijät-Häme offers a remarkable variety of cultural events, ranging from the Lahti International Organ Festival to different theatre plays and interesting exhibitions. The outstanding world famous Lahti Symphony Orchestra, especially famous for its highly regarded performances of the works of Finland´s national composer Jean Sibelius, also deserves to be mentioned. In the honour of Sibelius Lahti has build a wooden congress and concert hall, called the Sibelius Hall, in the Lahti harbour.
