"The easiest job ever!" says Dafne Schippers, laughing about her job as tournament director of the 2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn which takes place in 150 days from today (7) between 6-9 March.
After all, on the day she was announced as tournament director for Apeldoorn 2025 this March, almost all of the tickets for the championships had already been sold.
- Tickets on sale here
But that comment isn't really serious, she quickly makes it clear. Schippers knows the event must offer quality, both for the athletes and the spectators.
And Schippers, who announced her retirement from athletics last autumn, is looking forward to contributing to an unforgettable edition of the European Athletics Indoor Championships albeit in a different capacity.
"I really needed time and space to discover this new world"
"For the last 15 years, my life was pretty much fixed with the same daily routines of training and competition. Every year, together with my coach, we set goals; these were the major events that you had in mind every day.
"Once you have to decide to stop performing at this top level, like I unfortunately had to do a year ago, you don’t immediately fill up those days with something new. And I didn’t want that either. I was looking for time and space to discover this new and different world,” says Schippers, who still holds the European 200m record with 21.63 from the 2015 World Athletics Championships.
"And this summer I was lucky to have had those opportunities. I was really thrown in at the deep end, both on radio and TV and also in different roles: commentator, interviewer and analyst. I sometimes thought: I can’t do this at all. But luckily I had experienced people next to me and your English doesn’t have to be perfect. It was really cool to get those opportunities.”
Schippers got to know sports journalism from the other side: the side of the media. "I know that I could be quite grumpy myself sometimes when I had to speak to the press in the mixed zone after competition. But I also know that it is not always easy to have to answer questions ten minutes after finishing, while the adrenaline is still pumping out of your ears. Those are really difficult situations.
Now that the athletics summer is over and Apeldoorn 2025 moves into closer view, Schippers is taking up her role as tournament director again. "The work is really starting now," she says.
Schippers calls it an honourable task to promote the sport she loves and to discuss all aspects of the event together with Amy Kortbeek – who is involved in the organisation of the European Athletics Indoor Championships on behalf of the Dutch Athletics Federation.
From Prague 2015 to Apeldoorn 2025
After all, Schippers has gained the necessary experience as an athlete at the many major events she has participated in, including multiple editions of the European Athletics Indoor Championships.
Schippers made her debut at the European Athletics Indoor Championships at the age of 19 in Paris 2011 when she reached the 60m semifinals. Two years later, Schippers finished fifth in the 60m final in Gothenburg 2013 before storming to 60m gold at the 2015 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Prague in 7.05.
Schippers returned to the podium four years later, winning the last major medal of her glittering career with 60m silver in Glasgow. "But that is also where I suffered the back injury that eventually forced me to stop," she says.
As tournament director, Schippers is obviously hoping that many Dutch athletes will compete throughout the indoor season and participate in the European Athletics Indoor Championships. However, she will not be holding any recruitment campaigns at the country's famed high performance centre in Papendal for this.
"Everyone makes their own choices. I don’t think I have much influence on that. But a big event in your own country is - of course - a great opportunity to bring attention to yourself as an athlete and it’s just very special to compete in your home country for your own audience.
"I experienced this in 2016 at the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam [Schippers won gold in the 100m and the 4x100 relay.] When you literally have the entire stadium behind you, it is a very special feeling.
"I really see Amsterdam 2016 as the turning point in the love and interest for athletics in the Netherlands. We have ended up in a luxurious position and that is very beneficial for the top athletes of today," reflects Schippers.
"Apeldoorn 2025 must excel in quality"
Schippers wants to use her vast experience from competing in major events to bring the organisation of the 2025 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Apeldoorn to the highest level.
What do the athletes need and what should the organisation avoid? "What I have always found very important is the peace and quiet in the call room. Everything has to run smoothly there and it shouldn’t be too busy. That means that the volunteers need to be well instructed but also that you shouldn’t be too strict with the rules.
"Especially at indoor competitions it is often quite confusing because many athletes are doing their warm-up at the same time in a small space. The different routes at the venues have to be very clear to everyone. We have to deal with this in a good way in Apeldoorn too, to ensure that there is as little stress as possible for everyone. It is really nice that European Athletics has agreed to start the event on Thursday evening so that the programme is a little less packed.
“Some organisers do not understand how important good food is for athletes to perform. But if there is one thing I am not worried about at a European Athletics Championships in the Netherlands, it’s the quality of the hotels and the meals.
“If something does not go quite as planned, we will be able to make adjustments quite quickly. I am approachable, I am close to the athletes and if possible I will arrange it, because we want to offer quality. The lines of communication are short,” says Schippers.
Cors van den Brink / Apeldoorn 2025 LOC for European Athletics