Chandra Crawford wants the atmosphere at the Olympic cross country ski races to be unlike anything the spectators have experienced before.
For that to happen, the 2006 Olympic cross country sprint champion is convinced announcer Kjell Erik Kristiansen has to be part of that mix.
Kristiansen is renowned in cross country skiing, kind of a Foster Hewitt of his ilk. As a stadium announcer, he brings the races alive even for those who don’t know a ski pole from a telephone pole, injecting enthusiasm, a sense of humour and an incredible knowledge of the athletes.
Considering that the crowds for the Olympic races in the Callaghan Valley will be full of newbies, a guy like Kristiansen is worth his weight in gold.
That’s why Crawford has been petitioning the Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) to let Kristiansen be a stadium announcer for cross country ski races during the 2010 Games, as he was at the last two Winter Olympics and at the 1994 Games in his native Norway.
VANOC has told her Kristiansen is not available because they have him doing biathlon instead.
But Kristiansen has always done double duty on sports at the Winter Olympics -- and even triple duty -- plus there are no scheduling conflicts between biathlon and cross country during the Games.
“I think we should get him for as much as we can,” said Crawford. “It would be such a bummer (not to get him) because you want it to be a success, you want the atmosphere to be the off-the-wall.
“I guess I just care about our home Olympics, I care about the production of it, I care about it being a great time and I care about nordic skiing being an amazing event. That’s why I ended up being entangled in it.”
But VANOC says they don’t want Kristiansen to be spread too thin. John Aalberg of VANOC said they have set up announcing teams for each venue so they’re not relying too much on any one person.
“I wish we could put Kjell Eric at every competition in the park because he’s capable of that. He could do all all three stadiums,” said Aalberg. “But it’s not prudent to depend on individuals. That’s why we’ve put together teams.”
Kristiansen is not satisfied with VANOC’s logic, given that he’s done three sports at a single Olympics in the past without any issues. He’s also really tired of everyone in the cross country community coming up and telling him they can’t believe he won’t be behind the mic during the races in Whistler.
“Of course, I want to do cross country because that’s what I’ve always been doing – since before the war,” said Kristiansen, who has done over 400 World Cup races. “I have done every day every time and that hasn’t been any problem. I have been announcing 20 years and have left my work one day because of sickness. And we have people who can step in.”
Aalberg couldn’t recall the full name of the fellow who will announce the cross country events. Not exactly a ringing endorsement. He said this guy has done the last two Winter Paralympics and apparently has done some cross country announcing for Eurosport. He is apparently from Denmark, not a noted cross country power.
“The problem for us – and that is something they don’t know in VANOC – is that the Danes don’t have any tradition in the sport,” said Kristiansen.
“It’s like somebody coming from Africa and commentating on curling in Canada. They can know a lot, but the traditions are different and it sounds … different. I won’t use any other words.”
Kristiansen’s voice is the one athletes will hear on loudspeakers all the way to the Olympics, including the final World Cup stop in Crawford’s hometown of Canmore, Alta.
Someone referred the other day to these Olympics being “micromanaged.” This is a perfect example of that.
Kristiansen is acknowledged to be the best, he's done the last two Winter Games. Why not use him as much as you can? He’s more than up to the task, has proven he can do it at past Olympics. An athlete who’s been a great ambassador for her sport is imploring VANOC to use the guy. It’s not like she hasn’t got other uses for her time, so it must mean a lot.
Why make it so complicated? Let Kristiansen do as many cross country races as he can -- even Aalberg acknowledges he's the best -- and have a qualified backup to help him out.
The fans -- and athletes -- will thank you for it.
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