No matter who we are or where we come from, each of us is on our own journey. For many, thanks to the World Biathlon Championships, part of the February trip was also the fairytale Pokljuka. A month before the start of the championship, a French journalist colleague called me with a wish to record a conversation with the mother of cycling ace Tadej Pogačar, a French language teacher, at the camera and microphone during the biathlon event. Of course, I came to him and helped with his task.
When he did it, we met in Tivoli. An ideal starting point for his baptismal and fast “tourist” circle around the Slovenian capital. The rhythm of journalists’ lives is “at least in the fourth, if not the fifth gear” all the time. By the way, he wanted to “hear” me in front of the camera, and I suggested that he react to the reactions of Slovenes to the Slovene turnaround of the French tour in Pokljuka, where there are also many Slovene journalists, and that he should take a walk around Ljubljana. relaxes and breathes and feels the pulse of the city. You know that saying that good friends take care of each other, that close friends understand each other, and that true friends stay forever. Attitudes toward such friendships are not changed by time, distance, or lack of words. These are real friends and when they come into our lives, we simply appreciate it.
We are “swimming” friends. We met at the World Championships in Melbourne 14 years ago. He still keeps a photo from the pool. The memory is alive, as it was yesterday, of the other venues of the World and European Championships. The Russian Kazan was special, the control at the airport in Moscow was strict, we both had problems because of the codec – a radio device with which you can broadcast live from the scene. His media house made a mistake in listing the device in only one issue, and I was rescued by my colleague Siniša, who explained to the officials in Russian the purpose of this device and that it was no bomb when I was already labeled a terrorist. Yes, many times it was stressful on the way. And then also at the pool. Julien and I found that our first concern was at the pool, in addition to the establishment of commentary lines, the path from the commentary site to the mix zone, the space where reporters expect competitors. In Kazan, this flight of stairs was five minutes long, not walking, but running! Yes, you have to come to such a venue physically prepared, every lost minute means a later transmission of the statement or conversation with the athlete on the radio. I don’t have these problems today, but I’m still burdened with time. Subconsciously, “I guess.” 😊
At a fast pace, we walk past Ljubljana’s magnificent buildings. He is enthusiastic about the Modern Gallery, the SNG Opera and Ballet, the Slovenian Parliament, the Presidential Palace, the Prešeren Monument, … The Ljubljanica is a chapter in itself and also Ljubljana Castle, which he chooses as his last tourist destination in our quickly planned and time-limited walk.
Even under the impressions of the fairytale Pokljuka and magical Bled, he admires the old town with enthusiasm. Words escape to real life, to a different organization of competitions, to mandatory and tedious testing, he misses in-depth contact with competitors and mentions empty stands that are a disaster.
In France, this area is in the domain of the Minister of Sports, led by former swimmer Roxana Maracineanu. In Perth, Australia, she was looking forward to the title of world champion in the 200 m backstroke in 1998, two years later she won silver at the Olympics in Sydney, and in the meantime she became European champion in Istanbul. She is married to a journalist colleague and when Julien asks me about our Minister of Sports and challenges me that it could be me, I literally dream in a different direction and think out loud about my business trip to Perth. I was the only Slovenian journalist on the scene and worked for as many as five media, primarily for national radio. On the way and at the scene, I was without a cell phone. When I think about it, it’s almost impossible today. Really, the times were different. Memories of events from the swimming fields are for the whole book, even very wild ones. How verbally “convenient” because we are actually all travelers in the wilderness of the world and the best we can find on our travels is a sincere friend.
To conclude expressly fast, words experienced, tourist tour. We climbed the tower of Ljubljana Castle in sunny weather, the view could have been different, but it was still beautiful and special.
I think the world is a really interesting and complex environment. When we are young, we are led by our parents, then comes the moment when we are alone. Even though we all want to be independent, there are always times when we have to rely on someone else. Sometimes we just look for good advice, other times we need help. And this is especially true in a foreign country. The view from above should also be a reminder for our consciousness. The higher it is, the more responsible we will be for the world and for all people.
Au revoir mon ami, until next time.