Tit bits here and there: Have you taken enough photographs

It was a gathering about 10,12 people in a robe separated enclosure at the far corner of the first floor of the world forum. Out which recognizable faces are FIH president Leondro Negre, Ties Cruize, and then Stephan Veen. As I kept on clicking both legendary Dutch players, a tall,well built and smiling lady came to me and said, ‘have you clicked enough photos’. The tone was I should stop it. Yes, she is on a job, protecting the King of Netherlands, who was also in the gathering, which I came to know after her enquiry. I had to though politely tell her I shot only those two players, and also showed some shots, before she went away, again smilingly. Its really unbelievable for an oriental person that a King was present without much air about him. This incident happened after opening ceremony at World Forum, where about 1200 participants were served drinks.

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Roost Ballert, the bulky Dutchman, is always known for warmth and spontaneous quotes, but here he is almost silent. He was Dutch coach of the 2002 World Cup, and later on got into problem with team selection as he left out Teun de Nooijer and faced a revolt of sort. As a compromise, Terry Walsh was sent, giving the Dutch its first and last foreign coach. Roost recognizes this writer, smiles but is not interested in discussion, as he is ‘working for a marketing company associated with this World Cup’.

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Floris Jan Bovelander too is another busy man not interested to interact with media, but is all smiles as he makes sure he knows you.

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The best part the world cup is not just competition, but the way its promotional events are managed. There are almost six to seven events preceded, involving kids in large numbers, disabled persons and what not.

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The city is fully bedecked with Let us celebrate Hockey flags and the other with the World Cup. Both are seen everywhere, on lamp posts, across water bodies, on buses.

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One thing sure here is the conduct of world cup is known to many locals, including a middle aged women, of Gujarat origin, who travelled with me in the tram to forepark, nearest tram station to newly built Kycenora stadium.

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This is in contrast with what one observed in India. Right form the taxi driver who dropped me at the T-3, immigration officer, two Indians with whom I spoke to during the air travel to Moscow. None of them would know hockey world cup.

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When I asked Ties Kruize which of the six world cups he figured in is most likeable to him, he intervened to say I played six or seven world cups. No wonder stat is something every hockey players gives a bye. Ties too has no ties with it.