to) Finnish parliament had forced him to cut back on curling practice time, perhaps contributing to the team's early struggles. After the 2007 World Championships Uusipaavalniemi didn't play at a competitive level until he returned to curling in the 2009–10 season with a new team. The new team won the Finnish Championship in the 2010–11 curling season and represented Finland in 2011 European Curling Championships. The appearance in the 2011 Europeans was a disappointment when Finland finished 7th in the B-group. Political career On 20 September 2006 Uusipaavalniemi announced his candidacy for Finnish parliament in the 2007 election for the Centre Party.. Uusipaavalniemi was elected along with three other members of his party from the Uusimaa constituency. He voted against the further privatization of government owned companies as well as against the Lisbon treaty, both of which were supported by the party. On 11 November 2010 Uusipaavalniemi defected from the Centre Party and joined the ranks of the True Finns Party. He was not reelected in the 2011 election. Personal life Uusipaavalniemi lives in Helsinki. He is divorced and has three children. His older brother Jussi taught him how to curl. Awards Colin Campbell Award: 1998, 2003 Markku of the Year, 2002. The award is given by an association of people named Markku. References External links Profile on Finnish Curling Association's statistics Oulunkylä Curling Hall Uusipaavalniemi's candidate for Finnish Parliament campaign site MP Defects, Conservatives Take Top Spot 1966 births Living people People from Karkkila Centre Party (Finland) politicians Finns Party politicians Members of the Parliament of Finland (2007–11) Finnish male curlers Olympic curlers of Finland Curlers at the 2002 Winter Olympics Curlers at the 2006 Winter Olympics Olympic silver medalists for Finland Olympic medalists in curling Medalists at the 2006 Winter Olympics Continental Cup of Curling participants European curling champions