A diploma and an special gift were awarded to Corporal Marko Luhamaa, a World Karate Champion, who serves in the Staff and Signals Training Centre, the Single Signal Battalion, and the most active EDF athlete was awarded to Sergeant Timo Tõnisma, who serves in the Infantry Training Centre, the Guard Battalion.
The Defence Minister, Mr. Jürgen Ligi, considered 2006 a very successful for EDF in terms of sports.
“The athletes’ achievements cannot be claimed by anybody else but the athletes. If we speak about new initiatives in 2006, the establishment of the Sports Platoon, where our best athletes can devote themselves to sports, was the most outstanding,” affirmed Mr. Ligi. He continued by saying that, “The Ministry has allocated budgetary funds for the EDF sports club to support athletic activities and for units to procure modern sports equipment. I very much hope that Mr. Laaneots’ passion for sports and will to co-operate will result in a veritable breakthrough for soldiers of all ranks with regard to sports opportunities”.
The military personnel who were awarded for the preparation, conduct, participation, and for excellent training of regular members of the Defence Forces for the EDF 2006 Championship included Major Vitali Lokk (Staff and Signals Training Centre, the Single Signals Battalion), Major Rene Brus (Infantry Training Centre, the Guard Battalion), Lieutenant Meelis Stamm (Infantry Training Centre, the Guard Battalion), and Second Lieutenant Andres Sild (Staff and Signals Training Centre, the Single Signals Battalion).
In the opinion of the Commander of the Defence Forces, Major General Ants Laaneots, 2006 was Estonia’s best sports year ever with regard to the amount of medals won, to which the EDF Sports Platoon athletes also contributed. The other pivotal milestone was the establishment of the Sports Platoon at the Staff and Signals Training Centre, the Single Signals Battalion, where to date 16 EDF of the best Estonian athletes have been training.
“The Sports Platoon is a highly needed breeding ground for Estonia’s young athletes. In the future, our sports heroes can develop their own individual talents, whilst also resolving the issue of conscription for EDF athletes,” said Major General Laaneots. He underlined the importance of an athletic lifestyle not only among top athletes, but also among every member of Defence Forces, and he added that regular physical training would prepare young men to deal with probable crisis situations.
A letter of thanks for the successful initiation of the EDF Sports Platoon was received by Second Lieutenant Herko Sepp and Imre Tiidemann. Acknowledgements for last year’s athletic results were awarded to Corporal Olle Kärner (orienteering), Corporal Indrek Tobreluts (biathlon and cross-country skiing), Corporal Marko Albert (triathlon), Corporal Raimo Raudsepp (triathlon), Corporal Martin Padar (judo), Corporal Ain-Alar Juhanson (triathlon), Mr. Jüri Käen (triathlon instructor), Second Lieutenant. Imre Tiidemann (Chief of EDF Sports Platoon), and Captain Heino Märks (Chief of Physical Training and Sports Group).