Back in
the Netherlands, I always watch a lot of speed skating, especially events like
the Olympics. Of course, it is a bit more difficult here. Nigeria is not exactly
the country of winter sports. Fortunately, there is a South African sports channel
which is broadcasting a lot of Olympic sports. I don’t have a TV, but my
friends have. So, I saw Sven Kramer winning his gold medal on the five kilometre
ice skating.
Watching
skating on a South African TV channel was an interesting experience. Like
Nigeria, also South Africa is not really well known for winter sports. So, they
explain all sports. What is nice in sports like freestyle skiing or curling.
But, what do you explain about ice skating?
Well,
quite lot! For example, you have to explain that all competitors have to skate
the same distance and that the one who does this in the shortest time, is the
winner. Or, you explain that they have to change lanes every lap (yes Kramer as
well!). Or, you tell your audience (at least five times) that two skaters
compete at the same time. So, the person in the most inner lane is only warming
up, it is not the third competitor so don’t look at him. That is also why that
lane has a different colour.
Also,
the concept of a ‘clap skate’ (no joke) was explained. And of course we saw a
short summary of the Vancouver Olympics including the ten kilometres where ‘Sven
Kremer’ did not change lanes, and the 1500 metres where ‘Mark Tietert’ won the
gold medal.
What I
really liked was the enthusiasm of the reporter. In the Netherlands, our
reporters get very enthusiast when a Dutch is skating, or when someone is
performing very well. If a Polish skater is finishing in a time of 6.26 Dutch
reporters might say this is very good for him, but they will not say it is so
great and he is so quick and doing so fantastic. Here they do… What is fun, it
gives you the feeling he did so great and might win a gold medal. Of course,
the winner was 16 seconds faster. But it feels like everyone has a similar
chance to win.
I think
my Nigerian colleagues will tell me I am crazy when I tell them I watched ice
skating this weekend. But I am very happy that I can still keep up with a few
things from my own culture. And watching skating is definitely one of the nice
and harmless Dutch traditions I like to keep!
(I am
afraid I will not be able to watch much more. So every SMS or what’s app with
live updates is welcome!)
