Marianne and Sönke Bandixen

WOC 2003: Marianne and Sönke Bandixen are the heart and the engine

Away from the "we-for-ourselves-about-us mentality"

At Langweidstrasse 2 in Wetzikon, Zurich, Switzerland, the nerve center of the WOC 2003 is located. Sönke Bandixen (43) leads the organizing committee as its president, and his wife Marianne (42) the secretariat.

„OL": Have you already talked about Orienteering today, Marianne and Sönke?
Sönke Bandixen: Yes, of course! After breakfast we talked about the upcoming board meet of the organizing committee and exchanged our opinions what is still up to do regarding its preparation.
Marianne Bandixen: (laughing) The discussion was just one single phrase that Sönke passed to me while leaving the house: ’As we have a WOC meet tonight, would you please bring along all the material?’ During the day some e-mail messages were added.

How do we have to picture ourselves the co-operation of the president of the WOC 2003 with his secretary on a daily basis?
Sönke: I am aware of the fact that besides being married to Marianne I am also engaged with the Swiss O Federation SOLV. Regarding the WOC, however, this is a big advantage, because there are many synergies that can be used between the SOLV and the WOC. We have committed ourselves to a common assignment. Our daily organization works orally: Small-talk and communication by e-mail dominate. We’re a very efficient team.
Marianne: We have an agreement that the one of us who knows how to do the job better is going to do it. Because Sönke is heavily engaged with his job, however, I am often pulled back and forth: Shall I act as a secretary and present him the open action items or shall I act as his wife and allow him an easy evening once in a while?

How do the two sons Thomas (16) and Marco (14) cope with the dominant hobby of their parents?
Marianne Bandixen: Both do know what Orienteering is, although Thomas is not very active in it any more. It is important to me that they do sport. Which sport to choose however is up to them.
Sönke Bandixen: Certainly, the kids are a part of the Orienteering network. Nevertheless, there were times when I had to hear things like the following under the shower after an Orienteering event: ‘Stop it, dad! Now don’t start talking about the WOC again! This is going to last too long. I want to go home now!’

Your job experience as a director of the Kaba Holding AG certainly brings in leadership principles into the organization of the world Orienteering championships. How do these principles look like?
Sönke Bandixen: Personally I do believe in the power of a vision and a strategy. By means of my personal engagement, which is quite large, I am able to motivate the people. I apply this leadership principle to both organizations. Besides I try to communicatively pass contents. I noticed that I have a certain talent in this. But only with clear objectives a broad delegation is possible.

What are the hopes and expectations of the president from the organization of the World Orienteering Championships in Switzerland?
Sönke Bandixen: Basically there are three things. The last WOC in Switzerland took place in 1981. At that time I have gotten some of that pioneer spirit. After one generation it is up to us now to come up with a great work with signaling character in Switzerland. Moreover, I expect a significant wave of development in the Orienteering scene of Switzerland. With sCOOL, hobby runners and top athletes shall profit equally. The foundation "Orienteering Switzerland" is supposed to make financial contributions. Finally, the WOC shall create something of lasting value. Orienteering has become a "mature" sport with a steady or slowly decreasing number of participants and a surplus of veteran runners.
Besides I notice certain introversion around Orienteers. New initiatives and novel ways of doing Orienteering should be put in place as countermeasure. We have to overcome this "we-for-ourselves-about-us" mentality!

Is the effort altogether still possible for us with a relatively small Orienteering community in the back? All the co-workers, except the mappers and the secretary, are volunteers so far.
Sönke Bandixen: Principally the effort has to be put up. This shows the history of the past World Championships. More important to me appears the question about what kind of an effort we are going to invest. All projects have to be started under the pressure of volunteerism. This is a limiting factor. Therefore while putting the high-rise plans into action some of the aims will have to be put aside. The WOC however can certainly be organized this way as well. Not least, almost all of the volunteers are also Orienteering specialists.

Marianne, you have been in charge of the SOLV secretariat for eleven years. In addition you also head the secretariat of the WOC. A lot of activities of the Swiss Orienteering scene come together here. Moreover, you’re a top veteran runner. Where do you get the patience and the energy for this enormous engagement?
Marianne Bandixen: Lastly it is the Orienteering virus that is deep down in me. This engagement can only be performed if one is crazy about Orienteering. Besides, we consciously set time aside for joint activities without Orienteering.

What is going to happen with the Orienteering family Bandixen in fall of 2003 after the WOC?
Marianne Bandixen: If we remain healthy Orienteering will be here to stay. However I think that we’d rather be on the consumers’ than on the organizers’ side. Who knows, something totally different might happen too...
Sönke Bandixen: Naturally, I do have plans in my mind. At this time however, family, job and Orienteering are put to the fore. The WOC 2003 is the reason after all why I quit the military career path.

Thank you very much for the interview!

Interview: Lukas Jenzer

This article was first published in "OL", the swiss orienteering magazin. More information available from ol-fachschrift@a2plus.ch

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Posted: 2003-02-12 18:50:42