The City of Lahti awarded the organization of the 2024 Flag Football World Championships as the Sports Achievement of the Year in Lahti. Residents were invited to propose candidates for the annual recognition, and the city’s Wellbeing and Leisure Committee selected the World Championships from among several high-profile events as the standout achievement.

The IFAF Flag Football World Championship 2024 was held in Lahti from August 27 to 30, 2024. The event was organized in collaboration between the Finnish American Football Federation (SAJL) and Pajulahti Sports Institute, with games hosted at Pajulahti and the Lahti Sports Center.

The tournament brought nearly 1,000 athletes and coaches to Lahti, with the finals held at the Lahti Sports Center. These finals reached millions of viewers worldwide through social media and television.

Over 50 teams from 31 countries participated, marking the first time in the sport’s history that every continent was represented. This was also the first World Championship in a team sport included in the Summer Olympics to be hosted in Finland. ​

On Tuesday, December 17, 2024, SAJL’s Executive Director Mika Heinonen, World Championships Secretary General Laura Kittelä, and Organizing Committee Chair Risto Luostarinen accepted the award on behalf of the event.

Last year, the 2023 Salpausselkä Ski Games received the award, and in 2022, Olympic ice hockey gold medalist Hannes Björninen was recognized.