World Youth Championships
July 13-17, 2005 at Marrakech Morocco

world championships for athletes under age 18


Mike Byrnes diary

Behind the Scenes -

Thanks to all the support staff, especially
quote gatherer Carole Fuchs from Quebec City

by Mike Byrnes

BEHIND THE SCENES…ByMike Byrnes 

Marrakesh - July 17:  Only a small portion of those reading this have ever put on a meet.  Thus, very few have any comprehension of all the work that goes on behind the scenes.  There are countless details, which must be attended to, and if you skip one, it can foul up the entire event.

At any major meet, there is a team of young people who collect what are known as “Flash Quotes.”  They speak to the medal winners, jot down their immediate reactions to their race and then race to the press center to transcribe the notes and have them printed for distribution to the press.  Millions of readers throughout the world will read those quotes. 

I spoke with one of the young women who do this task, CAROLE FUCHS.  Hailing from Strasbourg, France but now living in Quebec City, Canada, Fuchs is an ever-smiling bundle of brains and energy.  Asked how she got started, she replied, “It was in Annecy (France) in 1998.  I was doing an internship with a journalist and went to the World Junior Championships.  The press staff needed someone knowledgeable with track and who could speak English and French and I was selected.” 

Since then this enterprising young woman has served as a quote-gatherer at every major IAAF competition in the world!  Asked if she would be in Helsinki for the World Championships, she nodded in assent. 

Accompanying Carole to Marrakesh is younger sister Betty.  “I’m here by accident, “Betty laughed.  “I went to visit my sister and the next thing I knew I was on a plane to Morocco.”  Her linguistic talents have proven quite beneficial.  She speaks four languages, French, English, Spanish and Slovakian. 

“I forget them immediately,” Fuchs answered when asked what quotes stood out in her mind.  “I have no idea.”  The pace is hectic especially on the final day of competition.  “There are finals one on top of the other and you really have to hurry to do the job.” 

“Some of the athletes are hard to understand and you have to guess for the precise meaning.  Most you do some research on so you’ll be able to ask better questions.” 

Fuchs is also somewhat of an idealist.  “The African athletes get very little attention so I have my own website, www.afroathletics.com.  It is in French but if there was enough interest, I could do it in English as well.  The site concentrates upon African track and field.

So if you want information about world track and field, Carole Fuchs has made it possible. 

Thanks Carole.

 

World Youth Championships index page


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