Experience pays off. The tournament in Hradec went smoothly, says one of the main organizers, Jiří Cícha

How satisfied are you with the tournament?
From the point of view of the tournament organization, everything went well, and I’m surprised that we did not encounter any major problems that we had to solve, which is also due to the fact that this is not the first time that we’ve organized a tournament and we already have some experience. We have a stable organizational team, which we’ve reinforced with several new members. I must say that we’re a great group and we pull together as one. Responsibility is key for us - everyone knows what they’re responsible for and they do it. As for the sports side, I’m excited. Both the Czech U16 and U23 teams advanced to the finals, which brought not only greater attendance but also a great atmosphere. In addition, our fans are amazing and I thank them very much for their support.

The last time you organized a tournament was in Liberec. Did you learn any lessons from it?
It was different in Liberec because all youth categories played there, which had never been done before. So this year's tournament is a little easier for us, the organizers. Of course, we try to work with feedback from people who didn't like something the year before. We know that there is always room for improvement, and we are trying to do that, whether it's directly at the ongoing tournament or by transferring the knowledge into the future.

Next year, the World Championships in Ostrava await you. Are you going to improve the tournament even more?
At the moment, we can't think of any new things that we could apply. The tournament will be completely different and much larger in terms of the number of teams, volunteers, and other things. Each venue has its own specifics that we have to deal with and solve. In short, there is no universal template - each tournament needs to be approached a little differently.

But do you have an organizational system in place that can be used for other tournaments?
Basically, yes, it's still based on the same thing; it's just that various differences need to be solved differently. For example, the senior World Championships require a different service compared to the junior ones. Other factors that need to be adjusted are the number of teams and the location. We can also talk about accommodation and transportation. For example, if teams are lodged far from the arena, we have to deal with transportation more, which creates more room for mistakes. In any case, it’s important to deal with mistakes when they occur and then learn from them.

Were there any major mistakes at this championship?
Nothing happened that would affect the events or the mood at the tournament. It’s always difficult to get the championship started. We have such an imaginary bar that when the first faceoff comes and everything is in order, we are satisfied and we know that the championship will go well. Until then, we deal with various details that you normally don't think about so much, but are extremely important for everything to go smoothly.

Can you compare championships held abroad and in the Czech Republic?
Generally speaking, Czechs like to hold championships and foreign teams like to come here. I wouldn't want to compare different organizers, because I'm happy for anyone who takes on the task.

What does organizing the World Championship entail?
We handle transportation, accommodation, renting the playing venues, the emergency response units that have to be here, and we also organize the work of volunteers. At the senior championship, we also have team hosts who guide the individual teams around the city and help them with orientation in the given location. We can also talk about television broadcasting and other media coverage of the tournament. All of this must be covered and connected. For all of this, we need to find competent people who can handle it, because one person wouldn't be able to do it.

How many people work at the tournament?
We have about 40 of our own people here, but the ISBHF also helps with the tournament.

What is your role in organizing the World Championship?
You could say that I function as a supervisor. I have hired a new person to my previous position, who I am training, and at the same time I have given him the opportunity to manage this championship. I supervise his work and try to push him. Of course, we all make mistakes, but that's okay, because we can learn from them. The most important thing is to learn how to correct those mistakes. At the same time, I try to help directly during the games, with the timekeeping, the scoreboard and things like that.

How do you apply to host the championship and why did the championship go to Hradec Králové this year?
The organization is decided by the ISBHF committee every year through a vote. Whenever we organize a World Championship somewhere, we try to help ball hockey in that city. In my opinion, that should be a priority. Thanks to the championship, ball hockey reaches people who haven't followed it before, which allows us to gain new fans or players.

Volunteers at the 2025 Junior Ball Hockey World Championship. Photo: Jan Havel