Chelsea & Austin: Day 6

Chelsea

Hello! It's day #7 of the World Games in Wroclaw, Poland. The group is excited to be going on our second excursion of the trip. We will be exploring one of Poland's oldest cities - Krakow. More importantly, I will be providing insight into the sport of inline hockey and my time as a World Games volunteer. Now, sit back and enjoy the official "Police Escort" of the 2017 World Games. 

Today's day trip to Krakow began with a quick tour of the many historical landmarks and the market square. We then broke into groups and had free time to explore the city. My group opted to enjoy the cuisine first before making our way to the Jewish neighborhood known as the Kazimierz. The city was full of history and I truly wish we had more time to explore. 

Inline hockey is categorized as a roller sports. 8 men's teams will be competing for the coveted gold medal, including the United States and Canada. Teams will compete in a round of qualifying before partaking in the single elimination tournament. While inline hockey shares many characteristics with ice hockey, there are a few distinct differences. There are fewer players on playing surface and no checking is allowed in inline hockey. This year's competition is located at the Osrodek Sportu just outside of Wroclaw. In its first game the United States won by a score of 10-0 against Poland. Canada lost its opening round match to the Czech Republic by a score of 2-5. The competition will continue with the elimination round tomorrow.

The American football competition came to a close earlier in the week. France, Germany, and the USA were the gold, silver, and bronze medalists, respectively. During my time as a volunteer, I was placed with the Swiss Timing team. This position's

duties included keeping the clock and score appearing on the television broadcast during the games or scouting for statistical purposes. I elected to keep the clock for both shifts. Because timing rules differ between the different levels (high school, college, and NFL), there was a required adjustment period to ensure the correct rules were being followed. Overall, I felt confident in my ability to accurately maintain the clock in accordance with the official game clock. Being such a huge part of a sport I absolutely love is an experience I will never forget.

Austin

As part of the logistics/information crew during the American Football competitions of the World Games, my jobs ranged from providing information to the public and helping with on-field activities. Some days I have spent behind a booth, outside the stadium, fielding questions about seating or taxi services for the English speaking fans. On game days, I have had to help direct players to which locker room and entrance to the field to use. Standing outside the locker rooms on game day, it was interesting to witness the clashing of cultures with the check in process. The German official had to check in each individual player with his passport. He was very impatient and was upset with the disorganization. Half of the United States team was already on the field warming up and had to be brought back inside. Several of the players did not have their actual passport for whatever reason. They only had a picture of it, which

did not go well with the official. Everyone, for the most part, was cleared but it definitely took significantly longer with all the different cultures present. During the final game featuring Germany and France, I was on the German sideline handing out water to the players. It was an interesting perspective being down on the field observing the athletes at field level. Everything seems to happen more quickly at the field level.

            We have explored quite a bit of the main part of the city, referred to as the market square. We walked up the tower connected to the St. Elizabeth church and were able to view the entire city from the top. It was amazing to see how great a structure could have been built so long ago. We also went into the Wroclaw Town Hall. This is where the local government was incorporated on a daily basis. They had artifacts dating back to the 1500’s inside including

paintings, statues, and other pieces of history. Experiencing the countryside of Poland, we hiked in the Park Narodowy. Our guide told us about the fables surrounding the mountain and the history that encompassed it. Hiking through the peaks and valleys of the mountains, one experienced a sense of euphoria that was exhilarating. There were many tight spaces to crawl through along the way, but it was definitely worth it!

            Squash is very similar to racquetball. Surrounded by four walls, the goal is to hit the ball off the front wall and to make it hit the floor twice before the other player returns it. It is becoming increasingly popular in the United States, England, and Egypt. It started on the 25^th of July and continues to the 28^th  for the World Games. Great Britain currently has the most victories with ten total for both men and women combined. The women’s quarterfinals featured two members of Great Britain against each other in which Fiona Moverley defeated Millie Tomlinson ^th and the finals on the 28^th. 

3-1. The headliner for the men’s quarterfinals featured Simon Rosner (Germany) and Miguel Angel Rodriguez (Colombia). Rosner defeated Rodriguez 3-2. The semifinal will take place on the 27