Key impressions: Roger Bader inspects Prague

Over the past few days, Sporting Director Roger Bader gained a first-hand impression of the World Championship venue in Prague (CZE), inspected the hotel and arena, and gave the organisers a positive assessment.

12 January 20242 min read

“Scouting the World Championship venue is one of the Sporting Director’s mandatory duties,” explains Roger Bader, who, as at previous World Championships, leaves nothing to chance and clarifies every detail in advance: “I do everything I can to plan and prepare beforehand. That means you can react if necessary.”

All rooms for players, staff and physiotherapists at the hotel were inspected, as were the meeting room and dining room, with everything the national team requires discussed with those responsible. “This already involves details such as the seating in the meeting room, the projector, the number of flip charts and the food,” explains the Sporting Director.

A visit to Prague’s O2 Arena, which has a capacity of 17.500 spectators, was also a must. “A huge stadium,” as Roger Bader noted. Unlike the past two years in Tampere (FIN), when Austria had to use a temporary dressing room, the O2 Arena has sufficient dressing rooms and ancillary rooms.

These were photographed and filmed in detail so that the Equipment Managers in particular can get an idea of them and consider how the rooms will be set up.

A major logistical advantage is that the match and training arena are one and the same, as was the case in Tampere. The arena also has a superbly equipped gym available to all nations and offers sufficient space for off-ice training.

“Over these two days, we gained a good impression and overview. The hosts are well prepared, and as usual, we too will leave nothing to chance,” concludes Roger Bader.