"After the Play" by Sharp, who won the silver prize at the 4th MBC University Song Festival in 1980. It's a familiar song for me who was born in the mid-1990s. I was staying in Qatar for about two more days after the Asian Cup final, and this song suddenly came to my mind. Qatar, which was noisy with a soccer festival, is on its way back to a calm atmosphere. Leaving the silence and darkness behind, I am going back to Korea.
Coincidentally, winter rains for tracking and tracking are pouring in Qatar throughout the last two days of the business trip. On the dawn of the 12th as I write this, even thunderstorms and lightning appear, sending me off. Qatar considers rainy days a year to be one of its kind, so I'm willing to enjoy it as a New Year's greeting, wishing only good things in the future.
From January 9th to February 12th, I spent a total of 35 days. I spent five full weeks. Somehow, I became the longest-running Korean reporter to cover the Asian Cup. It will depart from Incheon on January 8th and arrive on February 13th, so to be exact, it will take 37 days. My family and friends are the only people waiting for me, so I don't think it matters much.
For five weeks, I visited five hotels and covered 18 out of 51 games from the opening game to the final. It is regrettable that I was not able to cover and watch more games than I thought because I was busy keeping up with the schedule of the Korean national team.
Although it is eight years since I entered the soccer field as a soccer journalist, this was my first business trip to a major championship. It was also the longest stay abroad in my life. I learned so much and had many rare experiences.
Interviews with foreign journalists will be uploaded to the website the next morning, and an acquaintance who saw my article on the portal site's main page contacted me for the first time in a long time. I also went to cover another event held in Qatar during the competition. I had a great time while taking advantage of my busy schedule while sightseeing (if you visit Qatar, please visit the desert!).
In this place, where there are not many female "pen journalists," there was an embarrassment as they received the most attention and attention throughout their lives. These days, these are called "plating," but I was mainly targeted by Iranian men.
I got a lot of people. I remember a senior saying that while drinking coffee in the middle of the street in Doha, business trips bring people closer to each other, and sometimes closer to each other. Fortunately, I feel relieved that no one has moved away. It is because of their consideration, patience, respect and recognition.
The final was held at 6 p.m. on the 10th, local time. The next day, at around 1 p.m. on the 11th, a briefing and farewell party hosted by the local organizing committee was held at the main media center. It was a place where volunteers, police, organizers, and media who had suffered for more than five weeks gathered to say their final greetings.
During the competition, the media center bulletin board had a timetable for media shuttles to the stadium and the training site and various information. On the last day of the media center's operation, all notices disappeared, and the words "Thank you for being with you" were written on it, which made me feel emotional. At the same time, I felt at a loss as I thought, "It's really the end," and at the same time, I thought I had to go back to Korea, which is fierce.
In the afternoon, I had the last tea time with H, who left the media center and flew back to Korea on the same plane the next day. H, a senior in the industry and a well-known 'celebrity' to soccer fans, gave me various advice and counseling. I myself could hear stories that would be helpful in my life, such as worries about my career, money stories, and love stories in my 30s. Even seniors who have been through a long history of labor on this floor have their own worries. It was a good stimulus for me, who have recently been very tired of work and people. Business trips, and the last tea time. 먹튀검증
It's the last time, so it's been a long time. The Asian Cup, which would have been the worst tournament for some and the best time for others, is really coming to an end now.