Gordon Young asks for more European teams

Negotiating the participation of some teams in this year´s World Championship in Beroun has been quite a long story. With teams from South America or Australia coming over to Beroun, it is surprising to miss some teams from much smaller distance. “It´s a little disturbing when some people spend a lot of money to come to the event, while others could spend a little and yet they don´t come,” says Gordon Young, FIRS member and the CIRILH Referee in Chief.

The tournament in Beroun has been under way for a couple of days. How do you like it so far?
The tournament is great and the host city beautiful. I remember Pisek, which was very nice, and it is even nicer in here. The teams are playing some good in-line hockey and it is good to watch.

In one sentence, how would you invite people to come to the stadium? Why should they go and watch in-line hockey?
Because it is fabulous. That´s enough... The girls are playing really good, highly skilled hockey and people should be watching this.

Do you think the level of in-line hockey is getting better over years?
Yes, it is. The lower ranked teams are getting better, which makes the tournament tighter. For example the Spanish team - I saw them play and they are pretty skilled. The Finns have come a long way in a couple of years. Canada, USA and Czech Republic are really good teams. It´s great to see China and Slovakia here, too.

Is it difficult to promote in-line hockey in other countries, especially now, when there are problems with finances?
Yes, it is always going to be tough. Finances are tough in sports at all times.

Do you have any kind of plan on how to promote this sport in the future?
Yes, we are working pretty hard with our local federations. Hopefully, there will soon be some websites with good information. I am telling people back in Australia or Canada just to check this tournament website, because a great job has been done there.

For a man who doesn´t follow in-line hockey so often, it is quite confusing to have two federations. Have you tried to cooperate in any way?
It´s pretty political. We have to remember something, roller sport such as in-line hockey is part of a package of sports under the FIRS banner, which consists of artistic, speed, roller skating and all this stuff. As in-line hockey, you cannot stand aside, you need the backing of a federation and that is pretty much where we are. I think some time in the future there might be a meeting and it is somewhere back in many minds to get together.

In which countries is in-line hockey most popular at the moment? Is it France, for example?
France is pretty crazy at the moment. I saw their team at the Junior WC in Germany this year and they have really improved their program, their kids skate really well. I would also say Czech Republic, it is a hockey country, so taking kids on in-line skates in the summer is good for their sport and there are some really great players. USA is good too, Canada is a hockey country no matter which way you put it – Canada is hockey, hockey is Canada. Those are the top nations, but there are other ones, too. I was in Colombia and that was really exciting, because Colombians are really crazy and they love this sport.

Are you satisfied with the number of teams who have come here to Beroun?
No.

Why not?
Because there is not enough European teams. Where is Italy? Where is Germany? They should be here, they are right next to Czech Republic and they didn´t send their teams. Great Britain is another team, who in my opinion should have come. It is quite disturbing for a sport in their countries if you don´t come to the world tournament.

Is there anything you can do about this?
It is money. They just don´t have the dollars to come. Australians will come for the men´s tournament next week and it costs them around 7000 Australian dollars per person to get here. And they´re coming. They´re coming every year they can. They´ve missed a few, but not many. It´s a little disturbing when some people spend a lot of money to come to the event, while others could spend a little and yet they don´t come.

The final question is your tip for a winner of this year´s championship...
How about a top three in no particular order? In a women´s category it has to be Czechs, Canada and USA. In men I would have to go for USA, Canada and Czech Republic. Here in Beroun, Czech Republic has got to be a favorite.