Team sports

Hey folks!

Today marks the last entry about the Olympic Day celebration one week ago. I wrote about my chat with Paul and Christopher about the importance of school. Then, I also took up Mr. Schauer's opening words about how taking part in the Olympics and taking part in the Olympiad are actually two different things. So what's left today, is a little retrospective about Peter Seisenbacher's short presentation at the celebrations.

Peter Seisenbacher is an Austrian icon when it comes to (summer sports). He was the first (and I believe up to today the only) heavy weight judoka to defend his title at two consecutive Olympic Games. And while my country is used to such heroes when it comes to winter sports, it's rather uncommon that we have such dominant athletes in the summer. When asked about his success, Mr. Seisenbacher picked this up and said:

"I think what made me successful during my career was that I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by a dedicated team, where everybody knew his place and was fighting for a common goal. That's neither the easiest nor the most comfortable way, however, that's in my opinion the way to be successful."

Being given this quote, I think it's funny that one classification still differentiates between "individual sports" and "team sports". While this was true maybe some decades ago (I doubt that Jesse Owens was supported by a nutritionist or mental coach), I think that it is hopelessly outdated nowadays. Like Mr. Seisenbacher said: To be successful, you need a dedicated and competent team. So I guess the only difference between so-called individual and team sports is that with a team sport, there is at least one other guy competing. However, behind the scenes, all athletes have to rely on their coaches, physiotherapists, sport psychologists etc... to be successful. I wonder how long it will take for them to be recognized with a shiny medal as well... ;)

Taking part

Hey folks!

It's 11:10AM here in Austria, the weather is nice and I should actually be studying for two exams (contemporary history, statistics II) - in short, the perfect time and condition for another follow up of the Olympic Day celebrations on Wednesday.

As I wrote in my review, I was one of the guest speakers at this event, presenting the key facts of the YOG. Not an easy assignment, being given the fact that I had only 5 minutes to do so. (You know, when it comes to talking/presenting/writing, I keep with Mark Twain who allegedly once wrote: "I don't have time to write you a short note, so I'll write a long letter instead.") The other speakers were Peter Wittmann (president of the Austrian federations organization), Peter Seisenbacher (Olympic champion; I intend to write about him later), Hans Holdaus (director of the IMSB) and Paul Schauer (president of the Austrian Swimming Federation, vice-president of tie AOC). I'd like to write about the latter today.

In his role as the AOC's vice-president, it was Mr. Schauer's job and privilege to welcome the guests to the Olympic Day celebration. Below, there is an excerpt from his speech, quoted by memory. In advance, I guess I need to explain that the unofficial motto of the Olympic Games is "Dabei sein ist alles" - "It's all about taking part". The source of this slogan is disputed, nevertheless, it's widely used in German speaking countries.

"You know, when it comes to the Olympic Games, it's all about taking part. However, this quote is very often misinterpreted. People believe that it is all about taking part in the Games. However, it is rather about taking part in the Olympiad - the four years leading to the Games. It is about working hard on yourself and your skills in those four years in order to be a world class athlete."

I have to admit that I never thought about it in that much detail, however, when hearing Mr. Schauer's point of view, it was kind of a light bulb moment. Because if you think about it closely, he is absolutely right! Of course taking part in the Olympics is amazing - the greatest thing you can achieve as an athlete. However, what is even more important, is being in the middle of things during the Olympiad. It is in those four years that you can determine whether you are good enough for the Games or not. And instead of having one competition or maybe two weeks of competitions, you have to be on top of your game constantly, 24/7 for four years!

And I guess looking at it from this perspective, the whole philosophy of this saying become much more appealing.
"It's all about taking part in the Olympics" can be understood as a cheap excuse à la "At least I took part".
"It's all about taking part in the Olympiad" however is like saying: "Yes, I am taking part and I am on my way to Innsbruck/London/Sochi/Nanjing/Rio..." So what might appear as a semantic difference at first glance, is actually a huge difference in real life.

What it takes to be successful...

Hey folks!

As I promised the other day, I will pick up some themes from Olympic Day and write about it in this blog.

At the Olympic Day, one of the activities we had in store for the youngsters was a training session with Paul Sieber, a rower representing Austria in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. During the session, I got the chance to chat a little bit with Paul, as well as with his coach, Christoph. I noticed that Paul was reading "Der Process" by Franz Kafka, one of the main works in Austrian literature and (unfortunately) key element to the higher education curriculum.

So when I asked Paul which school he attended, he told me that he went to an "ordinary" high school in Vienna. Ordinary meaning that the school does not have a varsity program, providing aid for athletic performance. Christoph then said something quite interesting:

"Personally, I prefer an athlete that can handle both an athletic career as well as earning his academic degree. Because you definitely need the discipline and stamina it takes to obtain a high school degree to also have success with your sport."

For once, I have nothing more to add. Well, maybe one thing: It's a pleasure to meet people who embody this spirit in the first place!

Olympic Day

Hey folks!

As most of you probably know, there was a big birthday celebration going on all over the world yesterday. On June 23rd, 1894, Pierre de Coubertin founded the International Olympic Committee in Paris, France. Two years later, the Ancient Olympic games were revived in Athens and started to shape the world of sports as we know it.

Being the Young Ambassador of Austria, I had the chance and privilege to take part in the official celebrations in my home country. And what better place could there possibly be to celebrate Olympic Day than in an Olympic Training Center. Since there are four of them in Austria, we also had four celebrations going on. I took part in the celebrations at the Institute for Sports Medicine and Science (IMSB) in Maria Enzersdorf, Lower Austria. The center has been closely working with Austrian (Olympic) athletes for nearly 30 years and is one of the leading institutions in Europe.

In this blog entry, I will write a little review about the Olympic Day celebration. However, in the next couple of days, I will also pick up some of the themes that were discussed or just arose in the course of the festivities.

To celebrate Olympic Day, two classes (approx. 50 students) from a nearby high school focusing on sports were invited to the IMSB. They were welcomed by Paul Schauer, president of the Austrian Swimming Federation and vice president to the Austrian Olympic Committee. He gave a very inspiring speech about Olympism and what it means to live your life by the Olympic values and to give your best every single day. For me, it was very cool how the Olympic Values and the Olympic Spirits easily transcend generations. Because although I am some 40 years younger than Mr. Schauer, I share the same message with people out there.

Following Mr. Schauer, Peter Seisenbacher, two-times Olympic champion in Judo spoke about what it means to be a champion and, even more important, how to become one. And then it was my turn to give a presentation about the YOG. I was a little nervous, since I had to present after two exceptional personalities in Austrian sports, however, it all went very well and I think I could transport the YOG message. To wrap up the presentations, Prof. Holdaus, the IMSB's director, talked about the range of services his institute offers.

And then, it was time for action! At altogether six different check points, the kids could experience what professional training means.

• They went to the weight room and got a lecture on how weight training is done (and not done)
• They met with the Austrian fencing team preparing for London 2012 and Rio 2016 and learned some cool fencing moves.
• They tested their speed and reaction time at a fun performance diagnostics site
• They practiced on the beach volleyball court with two Austrian Olympians
• They tried out field hockey, coached by members of the Austrian team that won the European Championship
• They were introduced to rowing by no less than Paul Sieber, who will represent Austria in Singapore!!

All in all, it was an action packed day and the kids really enjoyed it. Besides giving a presentation to reach out to the kids, I also got the chance to talk to two of the athletes going to Singapore and get to know them a little. It goes without saying that they are very excited and looking forward to the Games. So after Olympic Day, there is only one thing left: Counting down the days until Singapore!

Tales from the Diplomatic Corps 13a

Hey folks!

So, as I announced yesterday, I have another memory with Shannon Andrew to share with you. Just a little side note before getting started: I know that I haven't written something about every Young Ambassador out there. This is of course in absolutely no way because I prefer some over others. It's just that with some guys, there was this one incident sticking out so I felt like writing about it.

I would like to use the second memory with Shannon to discuss a topic in its larger sense: On, I think it was, our last day in Singapore, we had a big feedback round with Pak Sing, the CCEO (Chief Culture and Education Officer). He asked us to give him some impressions and recommendations for the final CEP to be done in August. We were sitting around a long table in the impressive SYOGOC headquarter in Singapore and one after the other gave feedback.

As you might guess from my blog, most people were really pleased with the proposed CEP activities. However, there was one point criticized by several of us: Some of the CEP learning activities (i.e. career planning, nutrition, balancing your life...) deemed too immature to us. So we suggested to rethink them and make them more appropriate to a target group consisting of 14-18 year olds. The overall tenor was: Those activities will be too boring for the youngsters.

When it was Shannon's turn, be started out, like everyone else, by thanking the organizers for the awesome week we were allowed to spent in Singapore. However, next he stated something that made me think:

"I think the athletes and us, we should be happy and glad that we have the chance to be here in Singapore. For many people from my country, this is the first time ever they board a plane and visit such a big city. I think we should be much more grateful that we can make an experience like that."

In addition, the next day, Shannon took a subway to Chinatown...for the first time in his life! As you can see, this story puts many things into a whole different perspective. For me, it's nothing special to go to a big city (Well, Vienna) and I take the subway day in day out. Also, flying to another country, despite being the exception rather than the rule, is not much of a deal nowadays. So I'm very happy that stories like Shannon's put things in the right perspective. Of course having a CEP program with so many exciting activities is great. However, I think at the end of the day, we should already consider ourselves fortunate and very lucky to be given the chance to go to Singapore and meet with so many diverse people in the first place.

Tales from the Diplomatic Corps 13

Hey folks!

If I counted correctly, the Young Ambassador video portrait of Shannon Andrew is already the last one to be featured on the Olympic homepage. This suits me quite well since I not only have one, but two very special memories about Shannon to share with you. By the way, fun fact about Shannon: Being nicknamed "Nani" for his close resemblance with the Portuguese footballer, he is challenging Mansour for the Ambassador with the most given names ;)

As you can maybe see in his video, Shannon is wearing a beautiful necklace around his neck. During our week in Singapore, you could always see him wearing it. I noticed, because I am myself a big fan of necklaces, wearing a Celtic symbol of life my mom gave to me every day (Actually, not today since the lace broke a week ago. So anybody who has a spare leather lace will be showered with pins, stickers and thank yous!).

For most people, wearing a necklace is just a simple adornment to their outfit. They just wear them because they make them look and/or feel good. However, Shannon is definitely not one of those people. On our last day, we were sitting in the lobby of our hotel, ready to explore the city. Shannon was there as well and some when in the conversation, we were talking about family, brothers and sisters. From that topic, the following excellent story evolved:

"I have one younger sister. She is the Queen of my heart, I love her so much. Every time I travel abroad, she gives me her necklace, to protect me. It is a very valuable necklace. Where I come from, in Papua New-guinea, we believe that such a necklace protects you from evil things and demons. So people pay a lot of money for them. Like, where I come from, I could easily get an acre of land in return for my necklace. In other regions, people would trade it for a pig. You have to know that for them, pigs are the most precious things in the world. They are even more important than their wives! However, most likely, I wouldn't get anything for it. If I wore this necklace back home in the streets, just for fun, people might kill me, because it is so valuable."

I think it's remarkable how things can differ. Here in Austria, people are crazy about big houses, fancy cars or posh clothes. And if you saw somebody on the street wearing a necklace, you might think that it is pretty and suits the person well. However, where Shannon comes from, in PNG, people's biggest treasure might be a pig or a protecting accessory. And although it might appear bizarre at first glance, I don't think that it is at all. After all, I wouldn't trade in my mother's necklace either...not even for some land or a pig!

Tales from the Diplomatic Corps 12

Hey folks!

Since Paraguay just scored against Italy, one of my favorites, I thought it was time to work off some stuff I'm terribly late on. In this particular case, it really is a pity, since my memory with Sofia Irala is one of my most cherished ones from the six days in Singapore. And once again, it has nothing to do with breaking out of prison together, but rather with a very small, yet beautiful incident.

Although Singapore is a rather small state (it's ranked somewhere between Toronto and Hamburg), you can definitely spend a lot of time on the road. When being introduced to the various CEP activities Singapore has in store for the athletes in August, we drove all over town on our comfortable bus. And apart from the first trip, when the inimitable Jed got a new hairstyle, those trips weren't filled with too much action.

Coincidence (or maybe destiny? [Insert Danny Elfman-like musical theme here]) had it that on most trips, I was sitting next to or somewhere near Sofia. One thing you should know about me is that I always, always, ALWAYS have my mp3-player with me. It's just that nothing can beat the feeling moving in a bus or car and listening to some inspiring tunes. Except for one thing: Having somebody to listen to it with you!

So during our time in Singapore, Sofia and I would sit on the bus and just play music to each other and talk about God and his brother. On top of this site, you find a selection of five songs that I still remember listening to with her.

-) When listening to Tabaco y Chanel, she told me that I so have to learn to dance Salsa
-) When listening to Bella, I tried to translate the lyrics to her, always hoping Fabrizia wouldn't hear my embarrassing efforts.
-) When listening to Words on Logs, I showed her what my home town sounds like
-) When listening to Always, we remembered what being young sounded like
-) When listening to Mala Vida, I told her the story about saying: "Tu me estas dando mala vida" to a girl I fancied.

The whole time in Singapore, we continued having the most awesome conversations. Not about anything worldshaking. Just about stuff: About hobbies, about friends, about injured strikers and about dreams. In short: About what life is all about!

Career choices

Hey folks!

Today, I'd like to pick up another thought from Erin's blog entry about falling in love with her job every day anew. Yesterday I wrote about my inner flame (Btw: Feel free to post what's burning inside you! And don't you are to write 'that nasty chili from last night'), which is handball. However, Erin also described another important aspect:

"It is in this moment, as I place the medals around these athletes, that I fall in love all over again with my career."

Quite recently, I updated my CV, just in case some irresistible job offer would float in. When looking at the 2 pages document I'd produced, I had to smile. Since it is in a chronological order, the practical experience section reads:

• International Olympic Committee, Lausanne, Switzerland
  International sports governing body, right holder to the (Youth) Olympic Games
  Named Young Ambassador for Austria

• Union St. Poelten Team Handball, St. Poelten, Austria
  Austrian team handball club, currently playing in the 2nd league
  Project manager

I just think that it is a funny contrast, having the IOC, which is without a doubt the biggest, most influential and powerful sports governing out there, on the one side. And then, on the other side: Union St. Poelten team handball, playing in an Austrian amateur league. People frequently pick this fact up and say stuff like: "You must be so happy to do stuff with the IOC and to get away from the boring day-t0-day stuff you usually do."

Well, I have to say: They are wrong! Not about the being happy part - I haven't found a way yet to describe how happy I am to be involved with YOG. However, the last word coming to my mind when describing my duties with the handball club would be boring ("well-paid" would be runner up). For once, it is because the stuff is never boring. One day, I'm involved with planning a season closing and opening event in June and September respectively. The next, I am negotiating a new supplier deal with a sports company. And on the third day, I might be helping with putting together a budget for the next season.

However, apart from being quite diverse and thus interesting, I wouldn't necessarily agree on the fact that the IOC is so much cooler and better than my club. Of course you can't compare the two, that goes without saying. However, just because the IOC is bigger and global doesn't necessarily make it much more interesting. In fact, I discovered that when it comes to work, they are no wizards or the like. They haven't invented a secret program to do budget calculations. They haven't reinvented the wheel when they are promoting the different types of events there are. And from what I have heard, it's also a myth that days in Lausanne are 30 hours long, which is why they get more stuff done than us.

Don't get me wrong: The people at the IOC are amazing in their specific domains and so on top of their game that they don't need me to confirm this fact. However, at the end of the day, they do the same thing everybody around the globe involved with sports does: Work hard to promote the merits of sport. So no matter if I am giving presentations about the YOG or coaching my little league team: Both things involve what I love and thus chose as a career path. So the difference is only quantitatively, not qualitatively...as psychologists tend to say. And when talking about psychology, all I can say that the satisfaction I get from either one activity is just great!

Keeping the fire burning

Hey folks!

Yesterday, I wrote an entry about the diverse professional and educational backgrounds the Young Ambassadors have. What I didn't elaborate on too much was the immense pressure this puts on every single one of us. Just take this blog as an example: Sometimes, I have this great idea, a topic dealing with Olympism I'd love to write about (In case you haven't noted: 99% of all stories in this blog actually deal with the Olympic spirit). And then this: My dear colleague Erin Kennedy, marathon hero, inspiration for millions, whose masters degree makes me jealous everytime anew, just sits down and posts another amazing article on her blog! Just like that! Sometimes, life is just not fair (At this point, you can imagine the big irony sign accompanying these lines slowly fading out)

So in her blog entry, Erin was talking about falling in love every time anew with her amazing job working for an American sports governing body. At the end, she sets the stage for us to pick up her inspiring thoughts:

"As I have done before in my posts, I'd like to pose a challenge to everyone. Look at your own life - your job, your sport, your family, your life - why do you do it? What makes it all worth it? What makes you fall in love all over again, day after day?"

Even before reading her latest entry, I wanted to write a very similar experience. Last weekend, I accompanied one of our youth teams (Under 13 years) to the National Championships in Carinthia. It was the first time in years that I went to such a tournament. When I was still active, I competed at many of those competitions as a player and once I also went there as a referee, however, this was the first time I went there as a coach.

When coming back from the United States last September, I wasn't even sure if I wanted to get involved with handball again. I didn't have anything to do with the sport in two years and didn't have the feeling something was missing. Anyhow, I still got in touch with my old team and started helping them out with some stuff, e.g. as an assistant coach.

In Carinthia, our team played really well and you could see how excited they were to play against the best teams in the country. Unfortunately, two of our players got injured - nothing serious, but still, they couldn't play at their highest level. Still, they were fighting and hanging in as if they were playing for their lives. And while I was standing at the sideline, shouting words of encouragement and support or taking care of injured players, I felt it. I felt that from one moment to the next, the fire I believed to be extinguished was burning, as hot and all-consuming as ever. This might sound cheesy, but I don't really care. If you are involved in sports, you know what I mean and if you are not, you wouldn't understand anyway ;)

And this made me realize something: I might not be involved with handball constantly. I might not be working with my current club for all my life. I might not be playing the game anymore. I might won't have the time for handball once I got a full-time job. However, what I know for sure is that every time I go somewhere near a court, my pulse will accelerate and passion will get the best of me. Because all that matters is that special fire inside and that you just keep it burning...

Joining the Diplomatic Corps

Hey folks!

Yet another time, I have to apologize for cruelly neglecting this blog for...way too long. I actually kicked the habit of looking for excuses a while ago, but still: The reason I don't update this blog as frequently as I'd like to is that right now, I am really busy with my studies and work.

You might think: "What do you mean studies and work? Isn't being an Ambassador a full time job?" (Well, if you actually read only a line of this blog before, you most certainly would not think that. However, let's just keep the phrase as a nice leading-in) Anyhow: No, it is not! It's actually quite funny if you think about how diverse the Young Ambassadors' backgrounds are. So before getting back to a fascinating text about labor law, here is a non-comprehensive list of what the YAs are up to when they are not promoting the YOG:

• Studying, majoring in architecture, sports diplomacy, international relations, engineering, sport sciences, business, design, medicine and communication
• Working for sports governing bodies, such as National Olympic Committees and sport federations
• Running a sports marketing firm and an event management company
  
• Going for their pilot license
  
• Working as a design consultant
  
• Teaching foreign languages at high school
• Working with kids and teenagers as sports instructors and educators

That is only an ad-hoc list of all the amazing things the Young Ambassadors are doing. And guess what: It only comprises the stuff they do for a living, so all the voluntary work, side projects and just-for-fun activities are not even included in here!

Still, I promise (once again) that in the future I'll try to take some more time to update this blog. However, I hope that now you understand why sometimes things take a little while. So if anybody wants to leave some nice words of encouragement (Ranging from "Hang in there, champ!" to "Stop complaining and get up you lazy bas****!"), feel free to ;)