It’s not every day you see the president of a country rollerblading around the world in various locations, but Sauli Niinistö, President of Finland, does exactly that and has now added to his skating adventure with his travel to the UAE. Niinistö enjoyed this addition with some rollerblading in the Yas Marina South Circuit, which he called one of the best skating locations he had been to so far.
President of Finland is Long Time Skater
Niinistö, the National Coalition Party candidate, became the President of Finland in 2012 after beating out Pekka Haavisto of the Green League with 62.6% of the vote, says he has skated for many years. He began this adventure during the timeframe Niinistö was the country’s finance minister between 1996 and 2003. He was Speaker of the Parliament of Finland from 2007 to 2011, prior to becoming the Finnish president.
Since that time, he has enjoyed his travel to more than 30 different countries to enjoy skating. Besides the UAE, Niinistö has skated in places such as Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, Broadway in New York City in the US, and many more.
The President of Finland doesn’t just limit his skating adventure to foreign countries. Niinistö says he skates over 1,000 kilometers every summer in his own country. He says he chose the UAE this time, along with meeting with Dubai leaders, in part for its good autumn weather, as well as so his wife could go shopping at their great malls, and due to the country’s fascinating traditions.
President of Finland Meets Sheikhs
While visiting in the UAE, the President of Finland did more than just go on a skating adventure. While in the country, Niinistö met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Dubai’s Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, as well as Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. He discussed various things with Sheikh Mohammed such as investments, Yemen developments, terrorism and extremism, and briefed the Sheikh on recent Ukraine developments.
Niinistö Stands Out in His Presidential Career
Niinistö is the first president of Finland who comes from the National Coalition Party since the election of Juho Kusti Paasikivi, who left the presidential office in 1956. He had first run for the office of the president of Finland in 2006, but in that election, he lost to Tarja Halonen. Niinistö ran a second time as the NCP candidate in 2012, getting 37 percent of the vote to win the first round election in his adventure to become president of Finland. He went on to win the second round with a margin higher than any other person elected as president of Finland by winning the majority in 14 out of the 15 electoral districts.
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