06 Aug 2019 at 13:56 | Published by: PatPenguin | Views: 19738 | News search

Verners Kiršs  (Photo by World Minigolf Sport Federation - Youth)

WMF Youth got the opportunity to talk Verners Kiršs, Head of the organizing committee for this year's Youth European Championships (YEC) in Liepaja (starting tomorrow). We asked him some questions about how his feelings are for hosting the first Minigolf Youth European Championships in Latvia, but also how the preparations have been with the course as well as how he thinks the competition will play out.

WMF: How does it feel to finally be hosting an Youth European Championship in Latvia?

Verners: We are very proud Liepāja and Latvia can host YEC 2019. These are unbelievable feelings!

WMF: How has the preparation been? Liepaja Open in March was played in one location and now the YEC is played somewhere else. Is the lanes still in same shape after the temporary move?

Verners: The preparations of Championships were running in a very good style - slowly, step by step - the hotels were prebooked nearly 1 year year ago because Liepaja hosted a big Pop&Rock music festival in the weekend August 2-3. Now we can see that was really very smart decision - all teams & referees can live at the 2 main hotels. About the course, It was a great challenge to move it from it's everyday position to the bigger area (as it's placed now). But we manged to do it pretty well - most of the lanes stood the same regulation, only a few lanes changed a bit.

WMF: Talking about Liepaja Open, how fun was it to see so many Youth players there so early to try the course for this edition of YEC?

Verners: Yes, Liepāja Open 2019 hosted quite many junior players. I think it was very valuable for them to get acquainted with our lanes, hotels and all other infrastructure.

WMF: Now when most of the teams have arrived, how is the atmosphere? Do they enjoy the the course in the new location within the Olympic Centre?

Verners: I would like to tell I feel that the atmosphere is very good and all teams are satisfied with the lanes, the place were they are installed, with the hotels, with Liepāja restaurants., etc. I hope they will return home only with the best memories from Liepaja!

WMF: Last question, do you think the scores will be as low as it was back in March? Will it be open for more teams/players to fight for the medals this YEC?

Verners: I hope the results will be really low. We would like to have a situation that more teams / countries will be fighting for the medals.

WMF Youth thanks Verners Kiršs for the interview and wish him the best of luck for the future of this championships.

Interview and photo originally posted on the WMF Youth Facebook page.

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