quickly and economically, Kuusamo is seen as largely uninteresting from an architectural point of view. In contrast - at least considering the small population - the cultural life of the city is relatively lively. The Kuusamo Hall in the town center, completed in 1996, acts as a convention and cultural center. In it one can find regular musical and theatrical performances as well as changing art exhibitions. The Kuusamo Local History Museum is an outdoor museum that has been established on a historic farm. Additionally, a school museum is set up in the old school of Kirkkoketo. The church in the center of Kuusamo was built in 1951. It stands on the site of the old wooden church from 1802, which was burnt down in 1944 Lapland War by German troops. At that time German soldiers buried the two church bells (one endowed to the church by Charles XI of Sweden in 1698, and the other originating from the year 1721) in the cemetery to secure them from the advancing Soviet troops. The bells were considered lost until 1959, when the former German regimental commander visited Kuusamo and revealed the location of the buried bells. Today these same bells are housed in the rebuilt church. Sports Kuusamo is the venue of several international winter sports competitions. In Ruka skiing there is a stadium with the Rukatunturi-hill (HS142) and a smaller-K64 ski jumping hill and lighted trails and a biathlon facility. Since 2002, the World Cup kick-off in ski jumping and Nordic combined and cross country skiing World Cup races in Ruka Nordic Opening in late November at a joint event in Kuusamo instead. 2006's 16,000 spectators, the competition. Ruka in 2005, the Freestyle Skiing World Cup instead. International relations Twin towns—Sister cities Kuusamo is twinned with: Hørning Municipality, Denmark Avesta Municipality, Sweden Askøy, Norway Loukhsky District, Russia Famous people Alexander Kuoppala, former Children Of Bodom guitarist Enni Rukajärvi, slopestyle snowboarder and 2014 Winter Olympics silver medalist Hannu Hautala, photographer Tuomo Hänninen, politician Karoliina Honkala, Finnish chemist Anssi Koivuranta, ski-jumper, former Nordic combined athlete Pirkko Määttä, cross-country skier Jarkko Oikarinen, developer of IRC Kalevi Oikarainen, cross-country skier Pauli Saapunki, parliamentarian Ulla Parviainen, former parliamentarian, headmaster Kepa Salmirinne, musician Veikko Törmänen, visual artist Päivi Uitto-Riipinen, Miss Suomi 1979 Jarkko Petosalmi, musician (Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus) Tuomas "Zuppi" Törmänen, professional Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition player playing for Team Suomi References