Ni statusa, ni panike - novi koronavirus je prisoten, a se ga ne smemo bati

Je potrebna panika? Je potrebno, da je to vedno prva novica v medijih? Res je – virus je tu, pri nas – dva (ne)srečneža sta ga dobila in zdaj se o njih govori bolj, kot da bi le-ta dobila Nobelovo nagrado.

Virus SARS-COVID 19 je decembra izbruhnil v Wuhanu na Kitajskem – kje pa drugje – ajde Indija, Bangladeš, Ekvatorialna Afrika, drugje pa bi taka stvar težko mutirala. Gre za virus iz družine koronavirusov, ki pri ljudeh povzročajo predvsem okužbo dihal, ki je v večini primerov v blagi obliki, v nekaterih primerih pa lahko pride do hude okužbe in celo smrti. Ti novoodkriti koronavirusi imajo sicer večjo možnost da se razvijejo v hujše okužbe. Podobna zadeva tej današnji paniki je bil SARS leta 2003 (okužilo cca. 8100 ljudi, umrlo 774, kar je 9,5% smrtnost). 

SARS COVID 19 je do danes (5.3.2020 - https://bnonews.com/index.php/2020/02/the-latest-coronavirus-cases/) okužil skoraj 100.000 ljudi po več kot 80 državah sveta (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/world/coronavirus-maps.html) , umrlo pa je 3351 ljudi, kar predstavlja 3,4% smrtnost. Od teh okuženih je do sedaj znano ozdravelo več kot 50.000 okuženih, umrli pa so predvsem tisti, ki imajo slabši imunski sistem.

Če primerjamo COVID 19 z navadno sezonsko gripo, je gripa zelo dobro raziskana, pričakovana, vsakoletna zadeva, ki po celem svetu okuži nekaj deset milijonov ljudi, smrtnost je manjša od 1%. Problem novega virusa je ta, da ga natančno ne poznamo, ne vemo kako se bo spreminjal, kako dolgo bo trajal, ni nekega cepiva, znanega zdravila (https://www.livescience.com/new-coronavirus-compare-with-flu.html).

Morem priznati, da je dan današnji lepa naša Slovenija po mojem mnenju dejansko dobro pripravljena tudi na epidemijo, katero pa lahko preprečimo mi, vi – vsak posameznik – samozavedanje sebe, svojih stikov, svojega in njihovega zdravja, svojih in njihovih potovanj. Ker je bilo po medijih, socialnih omrežjih vse že vsaj 100x, verjetno vsak dobro ve, da če je prišel iz območij, kjer je dosti okuženih, ima povišano telesno temperaturo (38°C +), kašlja in težko diha, da se bo moral testirati. Naša država je vzpostavila 16 takih točk, kjer se testira. To je vsekakor boljše kot prva ideja našega vele NIJZ (Nacionalni Inštitut za Javno Zdravje), ki je hotel, da bi šel zdravnik pacientu vzet vzorec v avto na parkirišču pred ambulanto, zdravstvenim domom, oblečen v zaščitne obleke, ki jih kronično primanjkuje.

Vsak, ki se najde v zgoraj navedenih simptomih in je bil na tistih območjih z velikim številom, NAJ POKLIČE OSEBNEGA ZDRAVNIKA ali ENO IZMED ŠTEVILK, KI SE POJAVLJAJO V MEDIJIH in NAJ NE HODI V AMBULANTO ALI NA URGENCO, KER S TEM LAHKO OKUŽI ŠE DRUGE.

Vsak posameznik lahko poskrbi, da si bo okrepil imunski sistem (vitamini, gibanje, šilček žganja na dan), brez tega, da bi hodili po svetu v maskah – pust je namreč mimo. Maske pustimo tistim, ki jih zares potrebujejo – imunsko oslabelim.

Bi bilo to normalno? 

Z zadostno higieno kašlja, kihanja, občasnim razkuževanjem rok, predvsem pa z zadostno mero samokontrole in samozavedanja se bomo prebili tudi mimo  SARS COVID 19. Samo brez panike, z normalnimi socialnimi stiki, normalnim funkcioniranjem in brez strahu nam bo uspelo. 

Če povzamem – nevarnost po mojem mnenju (od 0-10) je 2. Vsak dan jih več ozdravi, kot na novo zboli, tako da se bo to v roku meseca, dveh umirilo.

VSE INFORMACIJE: https://www.nijz.si/sl/koronavirus-2019-ncov 

SR

Če je šport izgovor, tudi prav. Gremo v svet!

Košarkarji evropski prvaki, odbojkarji evropski podprvaki, rokometaši 4. v Evropi, Primož Roglič 1. na svetovni kolesarski lestvici, Tim Gajser svetovni prvak v motokrosu... Še bi lahko našteval... To so aktualni podatki na dan 26.1.2020. Vse to iz 2-milijonskega naroda, vse to iz nabora komajda 7mestnega števila moških v lepi naši domovini. Ženskih uspehov tokrat ne bom našteval.

Slovenski kotiček v Tele2 Areni. Foto: Slavko Kolar

Uspehi nam zelo pogosto lepšajo dneve in tedne, malo smo se že razvadili. Čeprav mi osebno nimamo nič s tem, nas vseeno razveseljujejo. Vsa čast športnikom, ki vsak dan garajo za te uspehe, s katerimi se potem vsi hvalimo.

Ti zmage in porazi so vedno dobra tema pogovora, iz tega se razvije debata. Seveda obstajajo tudi kavč selektorji, ki so se večinoma od športa preizkusili samo v  desetprstnem tipkanje na tipkovnico. Po športnih debatah ljudje grejo od pogovora dobre volje in ne jezni, zamračeni, zmedeni v primeru ko debate pade na politiko. 

"Panem et circences" (Kruha in iger) so dejali že Rimljani, vedeli so kako v ljudeh vzbuditi zadovoljstvo.

Vsakemu navijaču tekma njegove ekipe dvigne adrenalin že doma, če navijaš na prizorišču pa si tako ali tako čisto v tekmi, ogret (sicer na drug način) tako kot igralci, dihaš z ekipo, si čisto v tekmi, skoraj tako kot da bi bil na igrišču. V dobrem in v slabem.

Ob tej svetovno znani zastavi z napisom Trebnje sedaj dela zastava z napisom Moškanjci že kar konkurenco.

Res je bil sem na EP 2016 v rokometu na Poljskem kot prostovoljec, prav tako na olimpijskih igrah v Riu kot prostovoljec - to je bilo organizirano in dalj časa trajajoče. Tako navijaško pa sem v zadnjih 4 mesecih komaj zdaj uvidel kako dober izgovor je to, da greš nekam na izlet v tujino, spoznavaš nove ljudi, se družiš s podobno mislečimi. Nastajajo  nova prijateljstva, nova poznanstva, nove poslovne priložnosti, srečuješ ljudi različnih profilov iz cele Slovenije, nikoli ne veš koga boš kdaj rabil. Več nas je, bolj smo glasni!

Navijači v Stockholmu z reprezentanco. Foto: Slavko Kolar

Navijamo za Rogliča in Pogačarja v Madridu

Še sam si dober teden nazaj nisem mislil, da bom danes sedel v Stockholmu, pel skupaj z ABBO "Dancing queen" karaoke in pisal blog, pa ga. Brez dobrih iger rokometašev zagotovo ne bi videl teh severnih Benetk, mesta ob vodi, te idilične severne arhitekture in spoznaval prijazne ljudi. V sredo je padla odločitev, v soboto zjutraj sem sedel na letalu, brez dolgotrajnih priprav na potovanje. Pri tej mizerni ceni letalskih kart si prav premalo privoščimo takšne izlete. Na drug konec Evrope, v Azijo ali severno Afriko lahko prideš za isti denar (oz. ceneje), kot te stane prevoz v Dalmacijo in domov za dopust. Samo dovolj iznajdljiv moraš biti. 

Tako ko razmislim, sem skoraj prepričan, da bo spomladi čas za nov podoben projekt. 

Čisto preprosto je, samo odločiti se moraš in iti. Če maš še nek izgovor, je to še lažje.

No v iskanju letalskih kart za nov izlet ne bom več dolgovezil.

Simon

Handball is still a beautiful game!

Latest events on EHF EURO 2018 in Croatia just made me thinking about leaving this beautiful sport as active participant. I have been playing handball for 10 years, then I had elbow surgery and now I am a referee for more than 6 years. The handball was put into my cradle. It is our family sport. As proud Slovenian and a person, who just loves handball, I follow every match of Slovenia national team. 

At first I have to apologize to my fellow referees about my reaction after match, it was in the affect. There in Arena Zagreb was few thousands Slovenian fans and I was one of them. In moments like the last minute of the match you lose your clear mind. Referees are also humans and fall under an impression of a crazy last 30 seconds, but still they are trained and chosen to be the best in moments like this. Both of them were the only ones in Arena to see the video of last few seconds. IHF and EHF changed the rules for last 30 seconds two years ago just for situations like this one between Slovenia and Germany. They also included  videotechnology for this event in Croatia to follow the rules in critical situations. We are trained to make a decision in few seconds, it cannot take you whole 7 minutes to take a decision. And it is a big "coincidence" it rules in favor of a handball giant. I can say there were some critical situations in last 30 seconds, but they video reviewed only the last one. Photo of Veselin Vujović stepping in the goal to defend the 7m throw will be one of the most controversal in hanball history. What can you do, if you do not have influence and money? Imagine, if the situation was reverse. I am 100% sure, they would not see the video. 

"What can you do, if you do not have influence and money?" Veselin Vujović about to defend the 7m throw. 

It is what it is. In handball decision of a referees is the last one. I could not get over this situation so I reviewed it for 15 times and went through rules to make clear the situation. I could not sleep, I hope that it will make an lection for all referees in future. They made a mistake according to the rules. If you just see the video, there should be few different decisions in last 15 seconds and it would not come to this situation. 

Rules about throw in last 30s. 

It is over. I got an lection of handball rules, Germany got a point, Slovenia big disappointment. After 14 losses and 1 draw Slovenia was a reasonable decision away from first win against Germany. It does not feel right to finish a game in a way like that. It is not bad that they outplayed European Champions and got a point, but the way it happened is wrong. Handball is sport about players and fans, not about referees. I hope we will reach reasonable decision and step together to make this beautiful sport more clear to all. 

The biggest problem for me, handball referee, is to come to a match this weekend and all next weekends, to referee some 10-14 years old boys, who all watched the match, and be respected in their eyes. How can they trust referees, if in front of million viewers the best of the best referees made such a farce? Will they trust my decisions?

C'mon people of handball, step together for this beautiful game. 

SR

FENOMEN

Smo mali, malo nas je, večina svetovnega prebivalstva sploh ne ve, da obstajamo. Tipičen prebivalec je priden, delaven, ponižen, uklonljiv, ne izstopa, se ne pritožuje, ne vodi kariere in se strinja s tistim, kar pravi peščica ljudi, ki se ima za bolj pametne od ostalih. To bi naj bila Slovenija in tipičen njen državljan. A z odraščanjem mladih generacij se mišljenje tega tipičnega državljana spreminja – ta »novi« državljan je poleg vseh dobrih prej naštetih lastnostih začel verjeti v sebe, v svoj uspeh in misli s svojo glavo.

             

To nam v zadnjem času kažejo naši športniki. Ne podcenjujem uspehov naših individualnih športnih junakov, vsi se veselimo skupaj z Ilko Štuhec, Petrom Prevcem, Vasilijem Žbogarjem, Tino Trstenjak in drugimi, a ti so že od nekdaj netipični posamezniki in posameznice, verjamejo v sebe in v svoj uspeh od prvega dne, ko so se začeli ukvarjati s svojim športom. Tudi uvrstitev nogometne reprezentance na evropsko prvenstvo leta 2000 in svetovno prvenstvo 2002 ter srebrna medalja rokometašev na domačem evropskem prvenstvu leta 2004 sta bili bolj posledici nekih super generacij reprezentanc kot neka rutina in vsakdan. Uvrstitev košarkarjev v polfinale evropskega prvenstva 2009 in istega leta uvrstitev nogometašev na svetovno prvenstvo, je pokazala neke zametke, da bi mogoče nekoč iz naroda, ki zmaguje prijateljske tekme in predtekmovanja, izgublja pa v četrtfinalu, enkrat prišla miselnost zmagovalcev, ki se pred odločilno tekmo ne podela v hlače. Pri individualnih športnikih se kaže njihova osebna identiteta in miselnost, pri moštvenih športih pa se na odločilnih tekmah kaže identiteta in miselnost celega naroda.

In tistega leta 2013 se je začel neverjeten niz moških članskih reprezentanc v moštvenih športih. Najprej so se rokometaši uvrstili v polfinale svetovnega prvenstva, že mesec kasneje pa so se hokejisti uvrstili na olimpijske igre in to kljub temu, da imamo 7 hokejskih dvoran, nekaj več kot 150 registriranih hokejistov in nekaj zanesenjakov, ki ta šport vodijo. Da uvrstitev ne bi bila dovolj, so se Risi na največjem svetovnem odru prebili v četrtfinale. Kot da bi ta uspeh hokejistov spodbudil druge športnike, ki so leta 2015 »končno« začeli osvajati medalje. Odbojkarji srebrno na evropskem prvenstvu, rokometaši bronasto na svetovnem (in to po neverjetnem povratku na odločilni tekmi) in sedaj še košarkarji so pokazali, da smo začeli verjeti v svoj uspeh. V štirih ekipnih športih, ki na svetu oz. vsaj v Evropi rangirajo od 2.-5. najbolj popularnega, smo v zadnjih nekaj letih dokazali, da se miselnost Slovencev spreminja. Le v nogometu, najbolj pomembni postranski stvari na svetu, navijači čakamo, da nogometaši prestopijo ta prag, da poleg svojega talenta, začnejo verjeti vase in se redno uvrščati na velika tekmovanja.

Ko se zavemo, da nas je samo dva milijona, smo v športu fenomen, ki ga ni na svetu. Si predstavljati, da bi mesto Dunaj, ki ima približno toliko prebivalcev kot naša domovina, dosegalo takšne uspehe? Niti cela Avstrija, ki ima štirikrat več prebivalcev, se ne more primerjati z našimi uspehi. Kaj bi šele bilo, če bi nas bilo 8 milijonov?!

Slovenci smo narod talentov v športu, znanosti, kulturi, inženirstvu in še marsičem. Skoraj 20 let smo rabili, da smo začeli verjeti, da lahko uspemo, da zmoremo. Če si zadamo visoke cilje, jih lahko dosežemo – kot posamezniki, kot ekipa in kot narod.   

             

V tej košarkarski evforiji se je narod mobiliziral, če bi bilo prvenstvo bližje, bi se na dan finala, število prebivalcev v državi zmanjšalo vsaj za 5%. Vsi smo stopili skupaj in želimo našim košarkarjem najboljše in zmago, tako kot smo jo nedavno rokometašem, odbojkarjem, hokejistom in tudi nogometašem. Tako kot smo stopili skupaj za naše športnike, moramo skupaj stopiti kot narod – da naredimo iz te naše Slovenije deželo, v kateri si vsak želi živeti. Ni važno ali si Štajerec ali Primorec ali Dolenjec ali Korošec ali Ljubljančan ali Gorenjec ali Prekmurec, tudi če si Viola ali Green Dragon ali Florijan ali Šaleški Graščak ali Red Steeler ali levi ali desni ali katoličan ali musliman ali ateist, na koncu še vedno živiš v Sloveniji in ji moraš želeti vse najboljše. 

#6 Volunteer or spectator, job or opportunity?

If you ask me headline question - volunteer AND spectator and more than opportunity.

Accreditation with pins

Why come to Olympics just to work? Maybe I am so in love with sports, but c'mon, you cannot just come to Olympics to work and obey the orders from supervisor, whom is by the way among paid stuff. You get your Olympic clothes and accreditation, and you don't use it at all? They didn't pay us anything except for that clothes, food on working days and transportation. But where are the tickets, volunteer parties, getting to know each other? That only depends on a person and his intentions to make new friends, meet new people and maybe because of that, once explore the world. If I met volunteer not from Brazil on ticketing in front of Arenas, it was easy to go in, but usually there were Brazilians afraid of closing their eyes just to let me in to watch some matches, afraid to ask someone the same question at other venues. I thought that we volunteers should help out each other - especially because some tickets were really expensive, but OK, lecture for next time for me. That was the only negative part of volunteer experience, otherwise it was amazing to be part of the games. 

Rio2016 everywhere (Deodoro park)

There are a lot of positive things about being a volunteer. First of all, making new friends from all over the world. Also there is one great thing for being a volunteer - you are part of big machine, which is needed to work smoothly, that people from other end of the world can enjoy the games on TV or as spectators live at venues. And you can see closely, how many parts has this machine, how does it work and what can go wrong. The most important thing everywhere is that everything has to be perfect for TV. 

Few Slovenian volunteers (5/10+)

There were volunteers from more than 100 countries, so there were also more then 10 Slovenians (I still do not know, if I met all of them). It is really nice to meet some people from your country with same thinking, plans and love for sports. We already decieded to make some meeting soon, of course with caipirinhas and Brazilian music. And with some of them, we already turned our compass towards Japan and Tokyo2020. 

The best fans on the world with Sara Isakovic

As a spectator I have really special experience, I visited a lot of sports, but supporting Slovenian athletes here in Rio was really amazing. For great atmosphere at table tennis, sailing and handball, I joined four amazing people from Trebnje and surroundings (Thank you Čarli, Mlaki, Kuri and Jerry) - we have been so loud and supporting for Slovenia, that we made it to New York Times, all Slovenian TVs and newspapers and all over the internet. If few Slovenians can make big part of Future Arena screaming "Dajmo Slovenci" then anything is possible. Dissapointment after Slovenian team lost quaterfinal match against Denmark was huge, but at that moment they were better and now they are Olympic champions. It was seen, that we were breathing with a team. But this is sport, this is the past, now we should go for the new wins in future. There was a lot of joy, celebrating Slovenian medals.

sLOVEnia

Slovenian olympic committee prepared some celebrations and hanging out with our athletes, celebrating their successes and there was also oppourtunity to meet some important people from Slovenian sport organization. So I hope, that meeting them was good deal for the future, maybe already for Tokyo2020. I will be there for sure, but still do not know in what position. Only one thing is certain, in summer 2020 I am travelling to Japan.

Last time in olympic park 

From Rio with love, 

SR

#5 Living my dreams - let it last forever

Now it is day 9 of Olympic games and I can tell you, I live my dreams. Amazing venues, crazy atmosphere, top athletes of the world, wonderful city - it is like wonderland for me.

With my flag enjoying olympic park

Venues - arenas and stadiums are amazing,  atmosphere at all of them is great, Brazilians really like sports and they know how to support all partcipants. The organization although is not so good, especially ticketing and transport to the venues is a problem, as one of athletes in olympic village said, they are never on time, when they supposed to be. When you are on spectator buses, you can expect to be like sardines in a tin, too many people. Security is also just like on airport, so all procedure to come to the venue and spectator area or your work, it takes at least 30 mins.

But once you are in, you forget about all the problems before - then opens for me totally different world - spectators from all over the world, if you are in national uniform - they want to take picture with you, if you are in volunteer uniform, they will ask you a lot of questions, but all people are really kind and atmosphere is amazing. Special olympic sport is also exchange of pins, some people have like a hundred of them, so on my next olympics I will be prepared and bring a lot of Slovenian ones.

Here are some venues:

Olympic tennis stadium

Water polo arena

Olympic park panorama - from left to right Cariocas arenas triplets 1,2,3; Future arena, Olympic aquatics stadium

Olympic stadium - athletics 

Handball - Future arena

My workspace - Badminton arena - RioCentro Pavillion 4

At olympics is also a great time to see some new sports live, so I try to visit as many venues as possible, for me everywhere is a lot of spectators, more than I expected. But the best atmosphere and most amazing venue of this olympic games is for sure BeachVolley arena on famous Copacabana beach - I was lucky to be there on a rival game between home Brazil team and neighbour Argentinian team, crazy atmosphere, full arena, amazing athletes and view from dreams. 

BeachVolley Arena at Copacabana beach

But from the spectator position I can say that with Brazilian fans only Slovenian fans especially organized on handball matches, leaded by my friends from Trebnje. At match of Slovenia versus Brazil, at some moments we have been louder than full Future Arena of brazilian fans. We are not a lot of people here, but we support our team from all heart!

The best fans on the world - supporting team Slovenia (source: www.delo.si)

Also volunteer experience is amazing, making new friends from all over the world. Volunteers are from 18 years old to more than 70, all races, all nationalities. And all of them are amazing people, for most of foreigners there is sometimes a problem, that some of Brazilian ones, does not speak English. Luckily we got tags: I speak English, so by accreditation you know, who is easier to speak with him or her. But I will leave more from making friends and meeting people from all over the world for the next story. It is so amazing that especially us international volunteers already started thinking about next project - Tokyo2020. 

Until next time from Olympic Rio,

Simon Ranfl

Story of Volunteer for Rio Olympics

Main words: rio2016, volunteer, mystory, dreams

Since I was little boy, I dreamed about being part of the biggest sport event on the World. I remember waking up for Olympic events at 3 am, just to watch some Slovenian sportsman competing for medals and I was like 9 years old. When I spent 12 hours a day, watching Olympics from Beijing 2008, I decided I want to be there sometimes and the perfect choice was London 2012 - I just turned 19 then, it was close, I know the language... but I was scared, without any experience so I did not apply for volunteer there - even though I was determined that  I will be in Rio 2016 on first time ever SouthAmerican Olympic games.

When came the time for applying as a Volunteer for Rio in september 2014, I applied the very first day. Application was very long, so it took few hours to finish it the way I wanted, with all the good recommendations for myself, so I will be part of that. After that - waiting and waiting, we only had to play few online games and check our language skills, nothing serious. I was waiting for interview more than 1 year, but in October 2015 I finally recieved an email with invitation for interview. I thought it will be like job interview, so I prepared myself for everything. And then interview comes and we had online chat with operator from Rio and also 5 other applicants for volunteering there - nothing serious.

Then again waiting until the famous November 30th 2015, when they released first 50000 approved volunteers for Olympics - I was on this list and I was so happy, that I even make a party for my friends in dormitory in Warsaw, Poland (I was exchange student there). They said to us, that the deadline for Invitation Letter is in 2 weeks, then 2 months, then they had been saying soon all the time. I've sent few emails there and always same answer. Meanwhile, we had to do some online training, but still no letter. I was getting very nervous and what I saw on facebook, my fellow volunteers too.

No letter, no shift, nothing... Already in January 2016 I bought flight tickets, soon after I booked an accomodation, but letter still did not come. I was doing that without knowing, that I will recieve any letter, I only knew that everything will get more and more expensive.

At May 31st 2016 I recieve doubtful email from organizers, that they are not sure about me being volunteer there - my heart literally fell in my pants. There was a survey about our plans - WTF - I was approved more than half a year ago, you know my plans?!!

But few days ago (June 9th) I woke up, put my glasses on and saw an email from organizers with invitation letter - sudden relief, moment of joy and happiness. I have been telling to my friends, that I am going to work on Olympics, but until then I was not sure about it. Now it is official and all the anger, hate, swearing words are in the past.

Now there is nothing stopping me - people see you in Rio2016.

Simon Ranfl