All Four Contestants Can Go To Afghanistan!
Szöveg: honvedelem.hu | 2008. május 1. 8:35In the studio of Radio Sláger’s show called ’Boomerang’ there were four young people holding their breath and crossing their fingers while listening to the words of the Minister of Defence: they were anxious to know whom Dr. Imre Szekeres had chosen to be his companion on the trip to Afghanistan in the near future. The Minister, however, had made a decision which surprised everybody in the team …
As it has been covered by honvedelem.hu, the Ministry of Defence had an idea which is unique even on global level. They have launched a competition, and anybody could apply via a radio show to accompany the Minister to his nearest trip to Afghanistan, when he will be visiting the Hungarian troops in the distant country. The purpose of this uncommon initiation was to show the interested civilians, who are ‘outsiders’, the living and working conditions of our troops in Afghanistan’s Baghlan province.
It is not a negligible aspect how and where these people report on what they have experienced. While it is customary for journalists and telecasters to accompany a delegation, the ’report features’ of the civilians’ accounts are just as important as the reports of news agencies.
What is more, these accounts may be easier to understand and more enjoyable than the reports of specialized journalists. There were plenty of contestants, but only 2 vacancies: from hundreds of applications two ladies and two young men were selected. The small team was told right at the beginning that in spite of the many compulsory vaccinations and the military ’training’ in a combat-like situation, only half of them will have the opportunity to join the delegation.
Dr. Imre Szekeres himself announced the decision this morning on the air. The excited candidates and the hosts, too, were holding their breath while the Minister of Defence named Erika in the first place, then József.
Host Gábor Bocskor wanted to console the ’losers’, Mariann and Zoltán, but Dr. Imre Szekeres asked for a little more attention.
"Are there any consolation prizes?" – joked host Lajos Boross, but the reply came as a surprise to him, too: Dr. Imre Szekeres continued the checklist with the names of Mariann and Zoltán, which means that all four participants can go to Afghanistan!
The two people mentioned in the second round were somewhat groggy when they thanked the Minister for the opportunity. For a couple of seconds they were convinced that they will not have a chance to join the delegation. And although they have told several times that the preparations, all the experiences they have gained in the military, and the fact that they are among the four chosen people make them feel like winners, they would have been disappointed if they were told they are not allowed to go.
Naturally, honvedelem.hu will be there to report on their rejoicing, the trip and the team’s experiences.
