Cracking the code of a perfect tournament. Insights from WJC organizer Jiri Cicha

The World Junior Championships tournament is just around the corner. What stage are the preparations for the pinnacle tournament of the year currently at? What has been prepared and arranged so far?
Preparation for such a large tournament as the World Junior Championships needs to be addressed well in advance if the organizing country wants it to be of a high standard, rather than just being held. Many things related to preparations are dealt with every day. Currently, negotiations are taking place regarding the contractual conditions and technical possibilities of streaming the matches, as well as healthcare services and staffing for the tournament. As for the winter stadiums and facilities, we can say that these are already fully secured and prepared. Ticket sales have also been launched, and the official website of the World Championship liberec2023.cz is up and running.

What does the organizational team still have ahead of them? Can you now say whether you will manage to arrange everything necessary before the start of the championship?
Among the important aspects of organizing the tournament is, of course, the organizational team, which needs to be assembled, including experienced officials as well as newcomers who will develop later on. Another very important condition is financial support from the region, city, Czech National Sports Agency, and other entities, without which nothing could be organized. I can say with confidence that we will be able to prepare everything, as the time frame for organizing the tournament has been sufficient, and I believe that the Czech Republic will once again be able to host a tournament that everyone will be satisfied with. We have organized many tournaments in the past, so everything should be ensured 100%.

Who is responsible for the preparations before the tournament, and who will be involved in ensuring the organization throughout the entire event?
During the organization of the tournament, an organizing committee is always formed, which is involved in all preparations and decides what the championship will entail. Very close cooperation takes place between the Czech Ball Hockey Association and the International Ball Hockey Federation. The organizing committee and organizers will be involved in ensuring the event, without whom it would not be possible. My main task during the days of the event will be to coordinate all organizers and communicate with the International Ball Hockey Federation to ensure that everything runs smoothly and no major issues arise that could jeopardize the smooth running of the championship.

Could you find something that failed or did not go as planned in terms of organization at previous championships, and for this tournament, you are trying to prevent similar situations? How do you plan to achieve that?
At every championship, there are usually some issues or challenges that may affect the smooth running of the tournament. It is important to learn from mistakes and address any unexpected problems that may arise during the event, and not ignore them so that everyone involved in the tournament is satisfied in the end. Some problems cannot be prevented, and they may occur due to factors beyond our control, such as issues with collaborating parties. However, every problem can be solved, and we must always find solutions that have the least impact on the ongoing matches.

Do you already have any goals for future events of this kind, and what are they? Approximately how many years might viewers expect to see these goals realized?
Every organized tournament helps us, including me, to move forward and improve, whether it's through various bonuses for viewers, better comfort for players and organizers, and other aspects. I believe that the World Junior Championships organized in Liberec will provide us with further insights on how to push the boundaries of our capabilities to a higher level. The next opportunity to apply the experience gained will be the Senior World Championship, which will be held in the Czech Republic in 2026.

Apart from top-level ball hockey, what else would you use to attract viewers to Liberec? Do the local facilities have any special features? What determined the choice of the venue for this year's Junior World Championship?
I believe that ball hockey itself is a sufficient attraction to draw viewers to Liberec, and together we can create a fantastic atmosphere for fans. Of course, visitors can also find many other interesting places in the vicinity, such as Jested Hill or the local ZOO. Several factors played a role in deciding where the championship would take place. For the World Championships, it was very important to support the local ball hockey club HBC Liberec and contribute to the development of ball hockey in the Liberec region.

Ticket prices have already been published. How were the prices determined, and how do they compare to ticket prices for previous events? What attendance do you expect during the tournament?
Yes, ticket prices have been published and are available for purchase online through the Ticketportal network, so there is no need to search for ticket booths on-site. I do not think that the prices have increased compared to last year, if we compare them, for example, with the ticket prices for the Masters World Championship held in Kladno and Nové Strašecí. We always strive to set reasonable prices that are fair to the viewers and reflect the value of the event. As for attendance, it is difficult to predict with certainty, but we hope to have a good turnout of fans throughout the tournament.