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The
New Zealand team of Seti Mailei,
Allan Fletcher, Andrew Mailei
and Georgio Vakauta met us in
the Ramada Hotel Geneva after we
arrived on a bullet train from
Paris. Graeme, Linda, Sue and I
had just finished a 14 day tour
of Europe together. That’s
another story.
The
team had arrived on the same day
but at an earlier time and tried
to source a playing surface,
where they could practice. A
rough area in a builder’s yard
had been the closest they could
find.
At
7.00pm I offered to find them
something in a wider circle. I
obtained a bicycle from the
hotel and rode off towards the
airport and found two pistes
behind a swimming/tennis club
one block from the hotel.
Unfortunately due to my lack of
French I paid for two tennis
courts to be booked that night
from 8.00pm until dark (10.00pm)
at a cost of 30chf ($50). On
returning to the hotel the team
couldn’t be found. Graeme and I
searched the streets in an
effort to find them but to no
avail. The pistes weren’t used
that night.
The
next day we went to the stadium
early, on two different public
bus routes and walked a large
block. Time taken 45 minutes.
Access was allowed into the
stadium and the surface was
examined. Vita one of the Swiss
organisers was very helpful and
receptive.
We
were the first team to arrive.
The terrain had been under
construction for three weeks and
still more work had to be done
before the final surface was
achieved. In the interest of
getting an insight into the
terrain construction, Georgio
translated and we managed to get
a floor plan of the stadium with
details of the materials used.
It
was noticed that the New Zealand
flag was hung from the roof in
the front row in exactly the
middle for the bulk of the
spectators to see. No we didn’t
know why, just accepted it with
a smile on our faces. We tried
to register but were asked to
return the following day.
We
had access to a bouledrome
behind the stadium but on
investigation it wasn’t open.
There were supposedly three
terrains available for practice.
Vita and another helper, Serena
took us in their cars to a large
sport’s area on the outskirts of
Geneva CBD. There were 16 public
pistes available.
After a couple of hot hours play
we found a supermarket and
bought lunch. It was decided to
return to the hotel by walking
into the city and catching a
bus. Later that afternoon with
Georgio’s French we were able to
reorganise the tennis courts for
petanque terrain’s and practice.
From one of the locals playing
on the terrain we were able to
establish they were actually
free public pistes.
There was a large swimming pool
in the complex and on leaving we
were unable to get a refund on
the misunderstanding but instead
scored free swims for all the
time we would be in Geneva.
The
four star accommodation at the
Ramada Hotel was excellent if a
long way from the venue. Access
to free email was something we
hadn’t had for the previous 6
weeks. There were 15 other teams
due to stay there as well.
The
next morning we went back to the
Offices at the Stadium and
registered as a team. We were
given a satchel with programme
etc. had photos taken and ID
cards prepared. The camera broke
at the point Andrew was having
his photo taken but all was
eventually repaired.
I
would like to thank Graeme who
included my presence in the
group of 6 representatives who
were accepted as the New Zealand
contingent by the Swiss
organisers.
I
must admit I did have a busy
time with these World Champs. No
complaints but considering I was
suppose to be a supporter on
holiday I had actually become
included in the playing team on
the official website before we
left by mistake.
At
the registration they had only
one spare title and that was
coach which did allow me into
the stadium and eventually onto
the terrain with the team. At
one stage I walked along the
middle path of the terrain to
get behind and watch the French
and Portugal teams who were
playing. An Arbiter came along
and told me to return to my team
there was no watching from the
terrain walkway.
The
boys invited the USA team who
had since arrived at the hotel,
to play on our terrain. Many
hours of practice were put in
and included the inevitable
swim. That night our country
cousins had arrived. Aussie,
Aussie, Aussie. Gerard, son
Quinsley and Mico from
Queensland making up the team
with Andre and Chinka the
entourage and sub player
Jean-Jacque.
Gerard had lost a suitcase while
getting held up with delays en
route and as it contained their
boules they were a bit
concerned. It did eventually
turn up the next day.
Wednesday was the start of the
meetings. Graeme asked if I
would attend a workshop on
formatting so he could go to a
different one. About 12 people
were in attendance. Two remits
one from Spain and one from
France were on the agenda for
the next day’s delegates meeting
and a further one had been
prepared by the International
body.
Fortunately I was with Andre
from Australia otherwise I would
still be none the wiser. The
whole session was in French and
nothing was resolved except the
remits which were going to be
put to the delegates meeting for
a vote. Besides the countries
arguing their case, Russia and
Switzerland with us were the
only countries in attendance.
Meanwhile the team was locked
into a three-way practice
session with Australia and USA.
We had to be at the stadium to
be taken to a mayoral reception
late afternoon.
The
Swiss and FIPJP entertained us
at a large Swiss villa in the
grounds of a public park. All
the introductions were done in
French and the crowds seem to
ignore them and carried on
eating nibbles and drinking
fruit juice. The wine wasn’t
great.
The
buses then took everybody back
to the venue, which incidentally
were two ice skating rinks. The
tournament was in the larger
with floor to ceiling seating
and the smaller was used as the
dining hail.
The
opening ceremony started at
8.00pm. Our expectations were
high for a great night’s
entertainment. The spare video
brought over by the team to
replace mine, which had got
cooked in England, was not
performing so we were unable to
catch the moments. The teams
were led out with a young person
from the Swiss Petanque School
carrying the countries banner. A
band played music to accompany
them.
After more of the French spoken
welcome and opening nothing
happened. There was no Swiss
entertainment. We were herded to
the dining hall and queued up
for a buffet where the plates
were filled by the staff. It was
late; the euphoria wasn’t
present so we all went home.
Disappointed, our expectations
had not been met.
Thursday - the shooting
competition began. Georgio
captured 24 points but needs 25
to go into the repechage. The
surprise was Gerard from
Australia; who scored 41 and was
in the top four and the final
rounds.
Graeme attended the congress and
yes he had an English
translation. I offered to find a
rental video camera and went
back into Geneva City but alas
no success.
I
don’t intend to go into all the
games played by New Zealand as I
have reported most of that from
Geneva. Nobody talked about the
terrain surface which was hard
with a sharp metal grit cover,
it’s the same for everybody and
yes it was difficult to play as
the days progressed until you
saw the last four teams in the
semis.
They had the training, skills
and consistency. You can’t say
New Zealand had easy pools, as
every country is tough
especially when you only meet
say seven of them once a year.
There were 52 teams including
two from Switzerland, the hosts
and two from France, the
defending champions and the next
best.
We
definitely need a supporters
group with only Sue, Linda and
our Kiwi leprechaun Phil Doyle
from Ireland cheering the team
on. It was difficult to give
them a lift in spirits when the
going got tough. When you see
Denmark with about 50 supporters
doing a chant and the team
reacting to achieve results it
certainly brings it home.
The
heat inside the stadium was
terrible. 37degrees in Geneva on
the final day the hottest since
1921 and we were inside with
these huge cardboard hands
fanning ourselves to get air
circulating. There were doors
available to open but because
there was a charge and security
at the two open doors the rest
remained closed.
The
communication from the control
point was all in French and very
often contradictory. You were
told pool teams and piste
numbers and then they were
changed. Not conducive when you
are trying to settle your team
down in one place and getting
them to throw boules to find
their rhythm.
For
the Gala evening at a cost of
125 chf ($200) we were led to
believe that we were going out
on a large boat on Lake Geneva
to be wined and dined. As usual
we ended up in the same dining
hall where the team had been
feed each day of the
competition. A stage had been
erected but no other decorating
for the special occasion had
been carried out.
I
don’t think I fully appreciated
the New Zealand involvement in
the Worlds until the final
night. We all arrived in bright
New Zealand shirts, plenty of
red, black and white, kiwis and
Maori patterns. Thanks Allan it
was a great idea. We looked a
team compared to most of the
other countries and everybody
stared.
While waiting out in the car
park to go inside an old guy
with a floral shirt who had
obviously been at the beer stall
since the finals had finished
earlier, wanted to buy mine so I
said 2Oeuro ($40). He duly
pulled out to my surprise a 20
euro note and gave it to me. I
then, with somebody translating
had to back out with the
explanation I needed to wear the
shirt that night to be part of
the New Zealand contingent. He
was most disappointed.
Free wine was supplied. No
wonder its free I never tasted a
decent free wine the whole time
we were away so duly the beers
were bought by all and sundry to
shout the New Zealand team.
Everybody stood around the stage
as the presentation of the
trophies took place. We then
found our seating arrangement
and knew somebody shifted our
nameplates to the back of the
venue. Who was it?
The
meal was delivered to our table
very slowly and in between the
first and second course because
of the delays, the boys were
asked to come forward and do the
haka. The French teams, both
finalists, were lined up and the
New Zealand team came forward
and placed a shell lei around
their necks.
When they stepped back and took
their shirts off to challenge
them one of the French team
whipped his shirt off too and
started to move in face to face.
As you can imagine it was a
full-blooded haka with a newly
developed intro especially
developed for the occasion. The
crowd got out of their seats all
moving forward with cameras
clicking to add to the
atmosphere.
After it had all settled down
from the hugs and kisses, the
French teams wanted the New
Zealand shirts so if you see
anybody walking around in a
white dress shirt with a red and
blue band and a FFPJP logo you
know where it came from. Sue had
to stand in a huddle with the
Kiwi guys backing in so she
could strip off to change hers.
What you do to score a shirt.
Lots of teams came up to our
tables and socialised after and
the Russians wanted signatures
on their poster. They gave each
of the team a hand carved wooden
doll, each a different size.
This added to the frivolity, if
you want to know why ask Georgio
what size he got.
The
UK contingent shouted beers, we
ate with the Irish, and the
African teams love Georgio and
wanted their pictures taken with
him. The team from Mauritania
dressed in their beautiful white
robes came to the party for
pictures; we adopted Mr. Happy
from Senegal. He is a young guy
who never stopped smiling, could
only speak French and just
couldn’t swap his shirt for mine
as somebody explained they could
only afford one each and it was
his first.
At
midnight we finally got our
dessert. The place was emptying
out by this stage - enough was
enough. It was a long hard week
and the next day everybody went
somewhere towards home.
We
were all due to fly out to
Frankfurt late that afternoon
and little did we know what was
in store at the Geneva check in.
We were all overweight.
Disaster. The boys ended up
moving all their petanque boules
into one bag and went to carry
it on board but the staff took
it off them and placed it in the
hold free of charge. As the
flight from Frankfurt to
Singapore and Auckland was all
one link no luggage had to be
reweighed so they were home
scot-free.
Trevor
Neilson, 'Petanque New Zealand', Issue
17, Spring 2003 |
