Family Man

Anders Manell explaining his job to Young Reporter Alsou Mannapova

KAZAN – As Anders Manell switches on his computer, a photo of two young children playing in the snow pops up as his desktop background. “Those are my two boys,” he proudly announces.

Sweden’s media liaison at Kazan’s Summer Universiade is a busy man, admitting to often being awake until all hours of the morning as he compiles and transmits all the news of the 60 Swedish athletes competing at the Games to various media publications across the globe.

“It’s really fun, but tiring,” said the young father, who says its difficult being away from home for so long.

The sports fanatic, who works for the Swedish University Sports Federation, sends out press releases, contacts various Swedish and international media outlets, all while updating Facebook on a daily basis.

Thanks to Manell, there has been a vast improvement in Sweden’s coverage at the Games. At the last Universiade, there was only one newspaper article written about a Swedish athlete in the media back home, but as of Day 8 of the Kazan Games, more than 100 press releases had been sent and 20 pieces published.

Manell excitedly talks about the year of paternal leave that awaits him as he takes time off to look after his nine-month old infant. Yet for the rest of the Games, Team Sweden is his family – a family he is taking good care of.

Fabio De Dominicis/FISU Young Reporter (RSA)