From 1999 to 2010, Heinola hosted the World Sauna Championships. The rules: start at 110 degrees, half a litre of water on the stones every 30 seconds, sit upright, thumbs up whenever the judge asks. The last one to walk out unaided won. It was played as a joke, with fans in the stands and television from Japan. Finland's Sauna Society was against it from the start.

In 2007 the champion, Timo Kaukonen, was surprised when an opponent simply shook his hand and walked out. "Nobody's ever done that before," he said.

On 7 August 2010, about six minutes into the final, neither man walked out on his own. Medical workers pulled both out. Vladimir Ladyzhensky died and Timo Kaukonen was critically injured. Police suspected no crime and nobody was charged. The next spring the town ended the championship. In its own words, no way had been found to bring back the event's original playful and joyous spirit.

Sauna is not a competition. It never was.

What makes a good sauna evening for you?

Sources: Rick Reilly, ESPN (2010); The Globe and Mail (2010); Hufvudstadsbladet (2010); Helsingin Sanomat (2010); City of Heinola (2011).
Sounds: Yle Arkisto (lake waves, loon), CC BY 4.0. Freesound (CC0): DavidJGurney, mycompasstv.