Voice of Russian beach volleyball 10.07.2010

Let us introduce Oleg Gurov, commentator of the VII European Universities Beach Volleyball Championship.

- Oleg, to begin with tell us about yourself please.
- I’m from Belgorod. I have three diplomas in dramatic art: two in acting and one in directing. The first one is of the Dnepropetrovsk drama school, later I graduated from the Higher Education Academy of dramatic arts.

- So it comes out that commentating is not your main activity?
- Actually I’m an actor and director by profession but unfortunately my career in theater didn’t work out. I’m an advertising director in a commercial firm. I do all kinds of creative work and I enjoy it: script writing, video clip shooting, voice recording, etc. I also appear in local commercials. Except for advertising I simultaneously organize different shows and promotional events. As a matter of fact it was this type of activity that brought me in sports. As for commentating I’ve been working as one for ten years already.

- How did you end up in beach volleyball tournaments?
- I’ve been commentating beach volleyball competitions since 2004. It all started with regional rounds of Russian championships, later on I was offered to work at European and international tournaments as well. I think that I succeed in this field as they keep inviting me and I receive positive feedback from the audience.

- Your way of talking is very unusual. Is that improvisation or your elaborated technique?
- I believe that it results from personal characteristics. It seems to me that it’s an appropriate way of commentating beach volleyball matches. In my opinion sports commentating needs a special pace and groove, some emotional component. Primarily it’s oriented to supporters. And the general atmosphere, music, cheerleaders inspire the athletes.

- I’m getting the impression that you work hand in hand with the DJ. Did you have any common experience?
- Can you imagine me commentating without music? I would look silly, primitive, trivial and ridiculous. The background music is an essential part of commentating sports competitions. That’s why we are working together with Vadim, DJ Vavilon by stage name. He’s from Belgorod as well. Just like me Vadim has been working in beach volleyball for six years already. He’s been DJing at Russian, European and world tours.

- As a commentator you are some kind of a medium between the supporters and the athletes on the court. Tell us how to communicate with the audience and make them support, cheer the teams.
- I reckon that all depends on the spectators not me. There are two types of them: indifferent or «dead» spectators that keep silent on the stands and spectators that actively support, get emotionally involved in a game, cheer and whistle. They make a show out of sport.
It seems to me that I’m more an information provider than a medium. The spectators want to know what’s going on. And it’s a new sport for them so they want to understand what it is like. As you have noticed I’m not just commenting during the match but also explaining the game. In this context I’m a medium of course. I’m trying to be impartial when I comment. But with the competition taking place in our country especially during the matches of the Russian teams I believe I can give some emotional support. But I never say any humiliating words about the rivals of our teams. Moreover I believe that I ought to support foreign teams as well. Especially when they lose.

- After the Polish men’s team win you staged a foot-tapping dance with the Bagheera dancing group. Was it your way of expressing emotions and joy for the Polish sportsmen?
- I must say that I was rather restrained during the whole Championship. And as for the dance it was my usual state of mind. Each time the girls were dancing I wanted to go out on the court and join them. But my age is taking its toll. Anyway my choreographic education, spirits and energy make me move. Though there were tournaments where we used to dance and performed waves. Beach volleyball is a new sport in Kazan that’s why the supporters are passive for now. I hope that the spectators will be more emotional at next championship and especially during the Universiade.

- What’s your impression of Kazan?
- We’ve spent nine days in Kazan. And we are positively impressed, first of all with people. I’ve arrived in Kazan with Vadim. We’ve got acquainted with the Bagheera girls and went on a tour around the city. The girls were our guides. They are very sweet and I’m grateful to them for that. All of them are sociable and pretty. In general I’m enjoying my stay. Regretfully I did not manage to see the Volga river as the schedule was very tight.

Irina Gapsamatova, volunteer of press-center
VII European Universities Beach Volleyball Championship