Experiencing a press conference

This Friday, I had the great opportunity to take some ISPM students to the press conference of the NN Rotterdam Marathon. The media event organized by Golazo Group was held with the Erasmus Brige on the background, on a very rare sunny Dutch day.

Big thank you to Na?mi van Pelt for extending the media invitation to me and the students. It was a great learning experience.

As a former journalist, I did feel the urge to ask some questions to the athletes, particularly because the reporters attending were not really taking the opportunity (they were waiting for their one on one talks).

But honestly, to have Tiki Gelana there, gold medal in London 2012, and former winner of both the Rotterdam Marathon and Amsterdam Marathon and not to ask her things like

What makes the Netherlands special for you and marathons?

Since the gold medal, a lot has happened and you also had some injuries, how does it feel to be here and a favorite after 11 years since your win in Rotterdam?

Actually there was NOT A SINGLE question to the female runners, Tiki and Eunice Chumba. Why is that?

The local factor is still quite important for media, and the Dutch athletes - Bjorn Koreman and Roy Hoornweg - were asked a lot of questions, as well as Somali-Belgium, Bashir Abdi, and Somali-Dutch, Abdi Nageeye. They were together with Ethiopian, Dawit Wolde, better known for 1500 distances, than marathon. He actually said he finds 1500 more fun than marathon. No one probed him

Why is that? And why are you going for a marathon now? Is it a personal challenge? Is it a possible career switch?

The most interesting discussion came from a question raised by a reporter from Kenya, curious to know from the three athletes how far along are we from an under 2 hour finish? The three had different perspectives, which was leading to a nice chat.

The press conference itself was just under 2 hours. Lucky for the athletes that Marcela didn't have the microphone.

Good luck to the organizers of the event and thank you, Naomi once again.

Let's hope for a nice cool sunny Sunday.