For USA Journalist the best Universiade

CAROLINE WILLIAMS
Director, Communications

After working in the USA Basketball media and public relations department as an intern, and then completing a one-year position as Assistant Director, Media and public relations, Caroline Williams was hired full time by USA Basketball as an Assistant Director for Media and public relations and promoted to Director of Communications.

As the Director of Communications, she coordinates USA Basketball, including the production of press releases and publications, staffing of USA Basketball trials, team training and competitions while serving as a liaison between basketball staff and the media.

In this moment she is in Belgrade with USA Basketball team and for Belgrade and UB09 organization she says:

- Everything is great. From the Volunteers to the Attaches and Athletes . This is probably the best Universiade in which I worked. In particular, I am satisfied with the attitude towards us media. We have everything we need.

Is this the first time you are in Belgrade?

- I was in Novi Sad three years ago, so I actually then flew to Belgrade Airport, but yes this is my first time in Belgrade for this long.

What do you like most in the capital?

- Kalemegdan park.

Do you like Bellvile, University village?

- In Bellvile I am placed and I like it a lot. It’s beautiful. All athletes are there from all over the world, meeting each other. Everybody are happy! As much as men’s and women’s basketball team really enjoy at the Universiade.

From whom sporting events you had coverage until now?

- I was in four Summer Olympics, two winter and I think this is my fifth Universiade. But I can say that this one is the best.

Is Universiade popular in the United States?

- Yes, but people are not sure what it is. They know the Olympic games and attention is also paid to competition between different colleges. But of course, in this moment, they monitoring what happens and how plays athletes from USA at the Universiade.

How did you feel when the crowd “boo” reacted to the U. S. flag during the opening ceremony of the Universiade?

- I felt bad. The girl who wore the flag should be proud and feel great, but she told us that she did not feel great and comfortable because of the reaction of the audience. With us are all Universiade staff and people around fine, there is no problems in communication. Still that kind of things happened.

M.K.