– It’s a bit annoying, to be completely honest, Anders Mol told news after securing a place in the semi-finals on Thursday with a solid win over Spain on Wednesday evening. Mol reacts to the match schedule in the Olympics. Because already on Tuesday afternoon, the German duo Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler made it to the Olympic semi-finals. They did so after 2–0 in the set over the Netherlands. Well over a day later, Norway’s quarter-final against Spain started. This means that Norway has had 28 hours less rest than Germany, when the two teams meet in the semi-final on Thursday at 18:00. REASON TO SMILE: The German duo Ehlers and Wickler have gained a favorable starting point before the semi-final against Norway. Photo: Louisa Gouliamaki / Reuters – It could have been laid out in a better way. That it will be fair. Now it becomes an advantage for Germany, which is completely unnecessary. We have to report that to the FIVB, that it is not quite right, says Mol. – In what way should it have been set up? – I think you could have played faster on the same day, says Sørum. BIG MATCH: Christian Sørum and Anders Mol played a very strong match against Spain. Photo: Louisa Gouliamaki / Reuters news has been in contact with the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). They emphasize that they are answering on a general basis, and point out that the teams will only play one match a day. – The general Olympic set-up has been ready since early 2023. It has a mixed set-up with women’s and men’s quarter-finals over two days, on 6 and 7 August. The detailed match schedule is set up after the draw of groups and the results there, and also takes into account TV wishes from various rights holders, they write in an email. – Unfair It is not just Sørum and Mol, who think it is strange that Germany should get one more day off. – The others get over 50 hours of break, and we get just under 20 hours. Obviously, that’s a bit unfair. But we already knew that yesterday and have dealt with it, says national team coach Jetmund Berntsen. READY FOR THE SEMI-FINALS: Anders Mol and Christian Sørum were satisfied that the match only lasted two sets against Spain. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB Coach Kåre Mol also thinks the race that has been set up by the organizers is really annoying. And even if they were aware of how it turned out on Tuesday, they didn’t want to bring it up until they were actually semi-final ready. – Now we can complain, but we can’t do anything about it, says Kåre Mol. The Norwegian players were therefore very quick through the interview zone after the quarter-final victory. They spoke to news with a restitution drink in hand, while the trainer retrieved food from the bag. In addition, they sent the team’s physiotherapist out foraging, before returning to the Olympic village and taking an ice bath – for six minutes. – That’s why we have to be a bit quick now and recover and get enough food and sleep, then we’ll be ready tomorrow, says coach Jetmund Berntsen. FRUSTRATED: Kåre Mol and Jetmund Berntsen in the Norwegian support apparatus think the match schedule ahead of the semi-final is frustrating. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB Mattrøbbel The Norwegian team says that it has been difficult for the Norwegian players to get enough food. They had already taken action before the quarter-finals. – We try to feed them. Now came some Norwegian liver paste and mackerel in tomato. and things like that. And then we find some good baguettes in camp, and then they sit and look at their food for half an hour before they start poking at it, so it’s a bit of a challenge, says Kåre Mål and continues. – But they don’t give up until they’ve eaten it. And we don’t give up either until they’ve eaten it. DIFFICULTY WITH NUTRITION: The Norwegian boys are struggling to eat enough during the Olympics in Paris. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB – You have really taken on the father role of feeding the boys? – Yes, yes. We already sit and feed them, or watch the dishes until they are empty of food. Anders Mol points out after the quarter-final that they are getting tired of the “canteen food” in Paris. – It has been nice to have some mackerel in tomatoes and liver pâté to eat instead. It helps, that, says Mol. – What are you going to eat now before the semi-final? – Now it’s pasta. I think we got the order today. Then there will be pasta tonight, Then there will be some liver paste tomorrow, says Sørum, just before the physiotherapist actually came running with a bag of warm “take away”. SECURED FOOD: Norway’s physiotherapist Hannes Quandel ran off to buy pasta so that Mol and Sørum would get food as quickly as possible, while they hurried through the press zone. Photo: Hanne Skjellum / news – Incredibly delicious In any case, they were very happy to have progressed in the Olympics, and are now ready to fight for a medal. The Norwegian duo has actually not lost a single set in the five matches. – Incredibly nice to manage and hold on to 2-0, and save the energy we can spare. Because now we have another match already tomorrow against Germany, so it will be tough, says Sørum. National team coach Jetmund Berntsen thinks you know what you’re getting when they meet Germany on Thursday. – We know them well. We have trained a lot with them, so it will be a completely different type of match, says Published 08.08.2024, at 06.52
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– Completely unnecessary – Olympics Paris 2024
