In the Buitenbocht section, sports reporters Daan de Ridder and Lieve Wils write every week about the Winter Olympics and the road there. This week Daan about the team presentations, in which skaters suddenly express as many clichés as football players.
The average press conference in football goes like that of PSV captain Jerdy Schouten on Monday afternoon. Question: “How important is the winning of the first Champions League match?” Answer: “You can earn three points in every match. That is no different tomorrow.”
Clichés are among the biggest opponents of the sports journalist. They are almost impossible to avoid in football. Dozens of people work in their own media department at Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord. They ensure that fans often only receive a carefully orchestrated message from their favorite football players.
One of the big advantages of the skating world is that the athletes are not yet tightly directed by a press team of their team. Toppers like Joy Beune, Jenning de Boo and Jutta Leerdam usually just say what they think.
Usually, because there is also an exception in skating. During the press presentations at the start of the season, the skaters do fall into a long series of clichés.
Joy Beune tears in speedboat over the Maas at team presentation
Like every skating journalist, I therefore have a love-hate relationship with these press meetings. Teams give us the space to talk extensively with the skaters after the summer break. But for those interviews there is first a long presentation, in which sponsors are put in the spotlight and athletes say little to nothing.
Admittedly, such a show can be accepted a little bit better in the theater of the Rotterdam, the flagship of the Holland America Line. That company is a sponsor of Team IKO -X2O bathrooms – and from leaders Beune – and that is why we are on the second Saturday of September with a group of one hundred guests on board a cruise ship.
Six -time world champion Beune is one of the first to be called to tell the stage, to tell about the cruise she made last summer with her boyfriend Kjeld Nuis, his son Jax and her in -laws.
It is the start of an advertising block, in which terms such as “relationship marketing”, “sponsor family” and “exposure” come by. We learn that the sponsors in July during a training camp in Belgium did an arch shooting competition with the skaters. The skaters won.
In the sporting part of the presentation, the fixed summer terminology is inevitably. Skaters have “steps” or “turned a good summer”. According to coach Martin ten Hove, the team’s focus is not at the Milan Olympic Games in February, but on the next game. Then all athletes say that they are really only busy with the NK distances, the opening tournament of the season. Usually with a wink, but still.
Do you want white wine at lunch?
Fortunately, I am in the luxury dining room of the Rotterdam with four colleagues at a table with Beune thirty minutes after the show. It is 11.10 am, but a waiter kindly asks us if we want a glass of white wine at lunch. On the answer that we unfortunately are not for pleasure on the ship, the question follows if we would rather drink red wine.
With a glass of water in hand, Beune then answers all our questions. And so she also gives her opinion about the return of the Russian skaters, after years of exile because of the war in Ukraine. Not an easy subject, but journalism a lot more relevant than the good summer of a skater.
It is these kinds of interviews that ensure that I will faithfully end all team presentations again this fall. Even if they are not on a cruise ship.
In The Section Buitenbocht , Sports Reporters Daan de Ridder and Lieve Wils Write Weekly About the Olympic Winter Games and the Road Towards Them. This week, Daan Discusses The Team Presentations, Where Skaters Suddenly Utter As Many Clichés As Soccer Players.
The Average Press Conference in Soccer Goes Like That of PSV Captain Jerdy Schouten On Monday Afternoon. Question: “How important is winning the first champions league match?” Answer: “In Every Match, Three Points can be earned. Tomorrow is no different.”
Clichés Are Among The Biggest Adversaries of the Sports Journalist. In Soccer, They Are Almost Unavoidable. AT Ajax, PSV, and Feyenoord, Deans of People Work in the in-house Media Department. They Ensure That Fans Often Only Receive A CAREFFLILLY Orchestrated Message from Their Favorite Soccer Players.
One of the Great Advantages of the Skating World is that the Athletes are not yet tightly controlled by a pr team from their team. Top Athletes Like Joy Beune, Jenning de Boo, and Jutta Leerdam Usually just say what they think.
Usually, because there is also an exception in skating. At the Press Presentations at the Beginning of the Season, The Skaters do Fall Into A Long Series of Clichés.
Joy Beune Tears in speedboat over the Maas at Team Presentation
Like Every Skating Journalist, I Therefore Have A Love-Hate Relationship With Thesis Press Conferences. Teams Give US the Space to Catch Up With The Skaters Extensively and Peacefully After The Summer Break. But before Those interviews, there is first a long presentation, where sponsors are put in the spotlight and athletes say little to nothing.
Admittedly, Such A Show is a bit more acceptable in the theater of the Rotterdam, The Flagship of the Holland America Line. That Company is a sponsor of team iko -x2o bathrooms – and of leading lady Beune – and that is why we are on board a cruise ship on the second Saturday of September with a group of a hundred guests.
Six-time World Champion Beune is one of the first to be called onto the stage to talk about the cruise she took last summer with her boyfriend kjeld nuis, his son jax, and her in-laws.
It is the beginning of a commercial break, in which Terms Such as “Relationship Marketing,” “Sponsor Family,” and “Exposure” are mentioned. We Learn that the Sponsors Played An Archery Competition with the Skaters Duration A Training Camp in Belgium in July. The Skaters won.
In The Sporting Part of the Presentation, The Fixed Summer Terminology Inevitly Falls. Skaters have “tasks steps” or had a “good summer.” Accordance to coach Martin ten Hove, The Team’s Focus is not on the Milan Olympic Games in February, but on the next match. Then all the athletes dutifully say that they are really only concerned with the Dutch National Single Distance Championships, The Opening Tournament of the Season. Usually with a wink, but still.
Do you want white wine with lunch?
Fortunately, Thirty Minutes After The Show, I Am Sitting in the Luxury Dining Room of the Rotterdam with Four Colleagues at A Table With Beune. It is 11:10 am, but a waiter childly asks us if we would like a glass of white wine with lunch. To the Answer that we are unfortunately not on the ship for pleasure, the question follows Whether we would prefer to drink red wine.
With a glass of water in hand, bee then Answers all our questions. And so she also Gives Her Opinion on the Return of the Russian Skaters, After a Years-Long Ban Due to the War in Ukrine. Not an easy topic, but journalistic a lot more relevant than a skater’s good summer.
It is this child of interviews that Ensure that I will faithully attend all the team presentations again this fall. Even if they are not on a cruise ship.