At the Olympics, it’s hard not to get caught up in curling. The explanations of the former Olympic, world and European champion make this sport exciting.
© LMD-A
Patrik Lörtscher succeeds in transmitting his passion through the screen.
If the productivity of the French-speaking economy drops during the Olympic fortnight, it will undoubtedly be because of him. RTS consultant for curling, Patrik Lörtscher is undoubtedly the best ambassador of this sport. Impossible to watch the matches of the Swiss team, without staying until the end, as he takes us by the hand to guide us. His tactical explanations are just fascinating and allow any novice to understand what is happening on the ice. Like a chess player, he predicts moves. It describes the possibilities of each team, exposes the risks.
“I receive a lot of testimonies from people happy to understand curling, says the one who brought back an impressive collection of metals, including Olympic gold, that of the world and European championships. People are quite sensitive to explanations. Some do not even know that I was a player and believe that I am a journalist on TV.
“Many Swiss-German friends watch curling on RTS because even if they understand French less well, they like to hear explanations. They are not just told that the stone is slipping.
This strategist and popularizer even attracts German-speaking viewers. “Many Swiss-German friends watch curling on RTS because even if they understand French less well, they like to hear explanations. They are not just told that the stone is slipping.
He and journalist Marc Gisclon will potentially commentate 33 Olympic games (11 in mixed doubles and as many in men’s and women’s curling). Quite a challenge, especially since the matches take place day and night. And that the tandem of the RTS is in Geneva and not in Beijing. “Marc Gisclon had the Covid, a month before leaving for China, says Patrik Lörtscher. And since there were still traces in his organism, his tests were one day negative, one day positive and the next day once more negative. To prevent him from ending up in quarantine in a Beijing hospital and me being the only commentator, we preferred to work from the Geneva studios. For practical reasons, this inhabitant of Lutry stays in a hotel in the City of Calvin.
Despite this, the challenge in front of the microphone might not be more sporty. “It’s not easy, continues the former wealth manager, now in early retirement. Thursday night, we ate at 8 p.m. We got back to the hotel around 10:15 p.m. and set the alarm clock for half past midnight. After 2h15 of sleep, we commented at 2am. The following? We returned to the hotel at 5:15 a.m. and at 6:30 a.m. we left to comment. So I only slept for an hour. The two commentators put it back at 10 a.m., then at 1 p.m. before starting once more the next day. “I’m used to sleeping bit by bit, but it’s true that it’s tiring,” concedes the former champion who will turn 62 next month.
Encourage vocations
This effort is worth it since it arouses vocations. Each Olympic year, clubs observe an increase in attendance during open days. Another nice shot from Patrik Lörtscher.
