The delay is likely to set the process back by at least two months and possibly up to a year.

The teams shortlisted from the 50-plus entrants had been notified about their opportunity to participate and the line-ups were due to have been published last week. A seminar for the participating teams was also being planned for the initial phase of the competition.

The competition was launched in May. The main focus of the task is the design of the connection between Kruunuvuorenranta and Palosaari / Korkeasaari, which is situated at a 1.3km-wide part of the Kruunuvuorenselkä water area.