Eurosport Threatens To Boycott Snow Queen Trophy

If nothing changes next year, Sljeme will not be broadcast in Europe, Eurosport reporter threatened Matesa.

The Snow Queen trophy was a flawless event, the organisers made an effort and created an event to remember, but there is a rotten apple in every basket, and Sljeme is no exception. Prestigious Eurosport reporter Helen Scott-Smith had plenty of objections.

Annoyed with treatment

She literally exploded after the bus for the media did not set out for Zagreb at 21:30 as scheduled, but at 22:15 hours. She could no longer keep inside what has been pilling up since last year even.

- I can`t see why I am still at Sljeme at 10 p.m. and why I see many people in the reporters` bus who are not even reporters. I can`t hold everything that has been happening her inside in anymore, somebody has to speak up - Helen said, visibly frustrated with the treatment.

It should be pointed out that Scott-Smith has been a reporter in the skiing world for 20 years and that her word does matter. Therefore, president of the Croatian Olympic Committee Zlatko Matesa and member of the Croatian Skiing Association Board of Executives Vedran Pavlek extended their apologies to her over the telephone.

- I have to share my frustrations with you, a glass of champagne will not solve everything. A year ago, I told you that reporters did not have conditions at the finishing line. We can`t see the score board, people who are not reporters move next to us and we can`t do our job – Scott-Smith raised her voice.

She was apologised to, because a reporter of such a medium broadcasts reports in 11 agencies throughout Europe, which is why she threatened the Sljeme Trophy will not be broadcast in Europe next year.

Many in the VIP tent had more than Eurosport

- If nothing changes next year, Sljeme will not be broadcast in Europe. I realise the FIS (Federation Internationale de Ski) don`t care about reporters, but if you organised the entire event, you could have seen to reporters who actually mean something in the World Cup – Scott-Smith explained, pointing out that conditions in Japan were better than in Zagreb.

She caused a ruckus because she quietly explained last year that other countries take care of reporters who follow the World Cup and she hoped things would be different this year. She pointed out that she had a problem by being surrounded with so many people that she could not even have a seat and quietly have a glass of wine.

Of course, everyone can interpret Scott-Smith`s views in their own way, from arrogant to logical. If she has been following the World Cup for so long, assumingly, she has to have certain privileges, because if people who have nothing to do with skiing were is a special VIP tent, then prestigious reporters have the right to special treatment in relation to others.