The central mission of the Sports and Youth Services is to promote sports and other physical activity beneficial to health. The city supports the activity of its citizens by organising sports services and activities that promote health and wellbeing, by assisting civic activities and offering sports facilities in a manner that is as fair and equal as possible to all residents of Mikkeli.
Mikkeli has some 200 different sports venues maintained by the sports services. The venues offer excellent opportunities for sports and exercise throughout the year. In addition to individual venues, the city boasts of nearly 300 kilometres of trails, tracks and skiing tracks, of which some 80 kilometres are lit. The Mikkeli region has several beautiful hiking trails with great views, sights and Finnish lean-tos called laavu along the trail.