Fans in Beroun will enjoy a unique experience, says Tomas Brezina

FIRS Inline World Championship 2010 is about to begin. On Saturday afternoon, women will kick off their part of the event and, in doing so, end the seven year absence of inline championship in Czech Republic. Head of the organizing committee Tomas Brezina says: “We are ready!”.

The championship is about to start soon, how satisfied are you with preparations? Is everything going according to plan?
The basic things are ready and the championship can comfortably start on Saturday. The rink is laid and ready, teams have had their practice sessions and are happy. Everything they need is here, but of course, I know about lots of details where we have some reserves, like during any other event. Generally, we are ready.

These type of events usually face a struggle with finances. What is the situation like with Beroun?
In cooperation with Sport Bohemia, we have managed to obtain sufficient financial resources. The championship is definitely covered. Of course we cannot afford to squander money. Our goal is to provide comfort for participating teams. For the first time, there are locker rooms outside for teams who could not get a room inside the stadium. In the past, teams had to bring the equipment all the way from the hotel.

How satisfied are you with cooperation with the host town, Beroun?
Beroun town hall has been absolutely fantastic. Had it not been for the cooperation with town mayor Jan Besser, this championship could have never been organized. I have only words of appreciation for him.

How much involved is FIRS?
Sometimes they come up with a good idea, but they definitely are not dictating anything, there are certain rules which we are trying to follow. There are two inline federations which cannot find a way of cooperating, although I would be very happy to see just one interesting world championship. You will not find teams from Finland or Sweden here in Beroun, because their roots are firmly within IIHF. On the other hand, we will have France and Spain and they are not taking part in IIHF event.

What are the major differences in rules between FIRS and IIHF?
First thing you will notice is size of the goal. IIHF uses a classic ice hockey size, FIRS has its own traditional lower size with wider posts, which originates in roller hockey. Playing time and penalties are different, as well. You can find all the information in the official tournament bulletin.

What are your expectations towards attendance?
I believe people will come. There is certain hunger for a top sport in smaller towns and it could be an attraction. How many times are you going to have a world championships in Beroun... Last time in Pisek, the attendance was good with 4500 spectators enjoying the final. Women games are free, but it will be more difficult to attract people, especially during the beginning of summer holidays and a couple of state holidays. Our goal is not to tear records apart. Inline hockey is a small sport and we will be happy when people have fun.

Are you going to compare this championship with the last year in Varese, Italy?
Our target is rather Pisek in 2003, when we set a certain standard. Without any exaggeration, everybody still remembers that tournament in Czech Republic. I know that we are able to organize this event for enjoyment of both spectators and teams.

How difficult was the negotiation with participating teams?
Certainly, it was difficult. We expected 10 woman teams, 8 will come, which is okay. It is very difficult to find money for woman´s inline hockey. For example, Canadians pay for their whole trip individually, apart from flight tickets. Their federation simply cannot afford it. Finland is exactly the same. However, we will still have teams from Argentina, Columbia, Venezuela or Australia, who spend incredible amount of money just for tickets. We approached 17 men teams until we got the final fourteen, with a question mark hanging over Korea, who just stopped communicating. Greece and Iran canceled their trip due to financial reasons.

How would you invite fans to come and watch these games?
I would invite them to watch a great inline hockey of top class. The championship hasn´t been here in seven years, that is definitely a reason to come. And, of course, to support Czech teams, who have prepared carefully and will hopefully continue in the successful period of junior and senior inline hockey.