I found this stored in my archives of journalism and writing this morning, a discarded more casual version of an article from last year, and decided to give it a bit of polish and share it. Hope you enjoy!
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“I’m off to interview Matti now,” the Danish journalist said to me as she passed my desk. “Would you like me to tell him hi for you?”
A few days earlier I would have flipped out at a question like this, but several hours working in the Media Centre had made me very blasé. “Yes, please,” I told the journo as she pushed open the front door. “Good luck!”
The ‘Matti’ the journalist was off to interview was Matti Breschel, a Danish rider with the Pro-Tour team Saxobank and one of the top cyclists in the world circuit. As a true cycling fangirl, usually just the mention of Matti Breschel’s name would be enough to set me squealing, but when you’re a volunteer at the UCI World Road Cycling championships, running into the world’s best journalists and cyclists is just a matter of course.
My first ‘Eureka!’ moment, I’m very ashamed to say, only occurred on my second day of working as a Press Conference Co-ordinator in the Media Centre set up for the event. One of the 100 or so journalists floating around walked passed my desk, and I noticed the colourful Hawaiian shirt he wore only because he’d had another Hawaiian shirt on the day before. This guy sure loves his Hawaiian shirts, I thought, he’s been wearing them two days in a row…hang on, that rings a bell….didn’t they mention something on the SBS Tour de France coverage who loves wearing Hawaiian shirts…oh my gosh, YOU’RE Rupert Guinness!
Given that I’d been up til 2am every night of the Tour, pinching and kicking myself to stay awake and dooming all my uni assignments to hell in the process, I should have remembered the face of the guy who reviewed each night’s stage while we waited for the day’s presentations. At least I didn’t embarrass myself that way when it came to Mike Tomalaris. Well…almost not. Having cleaned the coffee machines, kitchen and refilled the fridge for about the 10th time that day, I decided it was about time to make myself a coffee. Halfway through the cappuccino creation process, I turned around to see which country the journo behind me was from, only to recognise the distinctive hair of the SBS coverage’s host. I actually managed not to lose all ability to speak at the sight of one of my journalistic heroes as I told him of my 2am escapades and how much I loved watching the Tour. “Could I get a photograph with you please?” I asked him nervously. “My mum is going to love this.”
He was very good about the whole thing, even asked me my name, and it was all I could do not to scream out loud as he went back to making his coffee. I shoved my cappuccino under the machine and hit the milk button, buzzing with excitement. My Eddie McGuire or, well, whoever else commentates the footy these days was standing right there behind me! In fact, I was so absorbed in discreetly watching him leave that I turned around to find my cappuccino overflowing all over the bench. I could only thank my lucky stars that of all the journalists standing around in the kitchen, Mike Tomalaris wasn’t there to see me right then.
I actually saw that Danish journalist again before I finished my final shift on Sunday night. I thought she’d like to know that I’d finally gotten my chance to take a photo with Matti Breschel. As the silver medallist in the elite men’s road race, Matti took his place on the podium in my press room for the post-race press conference with Thor Hushovd and Australia’s Allan Davis. The journalist smiled when I told her. “Hopefully we’ll see you in Copenhagen for next year’s World Championships, then.”
Oh, I wish I could.
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