Organizing an international tournament of this scale is certainly a challenging task, admits Jakub Günther

Right now, I'm mostly communicating with teams and their managers

Jakub, as event manager, you play a key role in the preparation of the Junior World Championship taking place in Hradec Králové. Can you explain what your job entails and what responsibilities you have?

Broadly speaking – together with colleagues from the ISBHF, we oversee the smooth organization of the tournament. Every international event under ISBHF must meet specific standards. Right now, I’m mainly focused on communication with teams and their managers as we work on finalizing rosters for the championship.

Organizing a World Championship is a demanding task. What do you see as the biggest challenge in preparing for this particular tournament – whether it’s the international scale, team management, or time pressure?

Hosting an international event of this magnitude is certainly a demanding task. But I’d say that both the ISBHF team and the local organizing committee from ČMSHb already have extensive experience with such events. I can’t point to just one biggest challenge – it’s really a combination of many puzzle pieces that all have to fit together perfectly. I see this tournament as very similar to the Junior World Championship in Liberec, and I believe we’ll build on its success in Hradec Králové and later in Poprad.

Hradec Králové is hosting a youth world championship for the first time. What do you think the city offers in terms of infrastructure, facilities, and atmosphere to give the tournament a unique character?

We personally visited Hradec Králové and the ČPP Arena, and since then I’ve been looking forward to the tournament even more. The arena is modern and provides great facilities for both players and fans. I hope that many fans will come and help create an unforgettable atmosphere. It’s also great that hotels, restaurants, and attractions are mostly within walking distance – this will help international teams get to know the local culture. I admit that this will be only my third visit to Hradec Králové, so I’m also excited to explore the city more.

It’s a great opportunity to make friendships with people from other countries

Young players will take part in the Junior Championship. For some, it will be their first international experience. How important do you think a tournament like this is for their development?

I think it’s very important. It’s not even about whether they win a medal or not. What matters most is the experience – something that will motivate them to keep playing and improving. For the U23 category, it’s a key opportunity to measure themselves against international competition before moving up to senior level. The global ball hockey community comes together in one place, and that’s a great opportunity to make friendships with people from other countries who share a passion for our sport.

International tournaments often bring unexpected moments and emotions. What are you personally most looking forward to once the championship begins? Is there something that gives you the most joy when working on such an event?

Without a doubt, I’m most looking forward to the first face-off – when the tournament really begins. That’s the moment when I feel like half the work is done and I can start truly enjoying the rest of the event. I’m also excited to watch the games of the Czech teams – I always try to find time to see those. And what gives me the most joy? Working with a great team of people and enjoying a sport that holds a special place in my heart.

Fans in Hradec Králové will get to see top-level youth ball hockey. What would you like to say to them? Why shouldn’t they miss this event?

Once again, I’d point to the aftermovie from the 2023 Junior World Championship in Liberec, which is available on YouTube. I’d recommend fans watch it. If they can imagine those experiences in the setting of Hradec’s ČPP Arena, that alone is the best invitation.

Jakub Günther (left) is one of the key faces of the ISBHF organizing team. Photo credit: ISBHF.