Klára Hausmannová with the mascots of IBU World Championships in Nové Město na Moravě,
Czech Republi (Photo courtesy of Klára Hausmannová)

EBU Member broadcaster Czech Radio interviews Klára Hausmannová and Petra Svensson who were offered a chance to access the Biathlon World Championships through the Young Radio Reporters initiative.

Klára, you were given access to the Biathlon World Championships in Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic – a major sports event attended by numerous teams of athletes as well as journalists. Was this the first event of this kind that you have participated in?

The World Championships in Nové Město was the first (and so far also the last) major international sports event that I could take part in. I was surprised how friendly everyone was and how everything worked like clockwork. My task was to sound record and make an interview now and then. I was supposed to load all of these data into a database and add descriptions. And I was publishing a blog, which was also a part of my job. The assignment had been clear from the start and my duties remained the same during the championship. I liked the freedom that allowed me to do an interview with athletes whom I found interesting. I appreciate that I was surrounded by colleagues from Czech Radio 1 Radiožurnál who looked after me and helped me cope with my new role.

What was the biggest challenge during the World Championships?

My first interview, most definitely. It took quite a long time before I managed to shrug off stage fright and organise the questions in my head. I remember that my first job was to attend a press conference with the French team before the first competition – the mixed relay. A meeting with Martin Fourcade (double Olympic gold medalist) on my first working day! This was way beyond my dreams, and I am sure that he has never heard a journalist stutter as much as me. However, I gradually got used to the challenge and enjoyed the championships to the fullest. Less than two weeks is not that long.

What did you take away from this experience?

In normal life, two weeks is not a long time. Those two weeks in Nové Město went by so fast, too, but when I think back they were so rich in experiences that they don’t seem like a short time. At the championships in Nové Město, I could look behind the scenes of a big event of this kind and I realised how many people are involved. I was pleased to see that even the biggest biathlon stars are just normal people who were generally very nice and friendly. The lesson I learnt in Nové Město is that journalism is hard and rather time-consuming, but beautiful work. I am also happy that I could see places that I might never see again (the media mix zone, press conferences, shooting range, etc.). I am grateful that I could join the project and enjoy myself so much!

Young Radio Reporter Petra Svensson with biathlete Anton Shipulin, IBU World Cup in Östersund
(Photo: Joris Wauman)

Petra, what was your university major and what is your current job?

I studied journalism and worked as an intern for a TV production company, with which I spent one term. Then I joined a Swedish sports radio station for the summer. I only had a three-month contract, but then I landed a job at a local station where I have worked for the past three months. How did you find out about the Young Reporters Radio project? My boss from the sports station called me just after I joined the local radio station. He asked me if I would be interested in such a project. Of course I was – what a great opportunity! However, I was not sure if I could do it as I’d just taken on a new position. But my previous boss called my current boss, and “borrowed” me for a week.

Have you always been a sports fan?

As far as I can remember, I've always been into sports. I knew I wanted to be a sports journalist since I was 10 or 11 years old.

Was there a lot you had to learn about biathlon?

Of course, biathlon had not been one of my most favourite sports. But in fact, there had been a few successful biathletes in Sweden. These I knew, but my knowledge of the international scene was rather limited. I knew the best ones: Martin Fourcade and Tora Berger, for example. However, in some cases I had to Google the photos. I tried to read a lot about what happened during the last seasons, about who is still in and who is out.

What is your best experience from the World Cup in Östersund?

It was great just to be there, experience the whole event on the spot, and to see how things work. I've never been to such an event, nor have I ever made an interview with an athlete right after the race. It was great to meet everyone. They were all so nice. I introduced myself and told them I would like to ask a few questions and they said: “Oh, nice to meet you,” had a funny comment or something like that. Biathletes are very easy-going and down to earth. The whole week was a great and unforgettable experience.