Greg Rutherford today had a message for three Dutch athletes listening to him talk and it could transcend to the rest of their team: There is nothing like winning at a home championship.
Rutherford was among a top line-up at the official press conference ahead of the European Athletics Championships which start in Amsterdam tomorrow.
The defending long jump champion was joined at the Stedelijk Museum by Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie, who is looking to win his fourth successive European pole vault crown, and big Dutch hopes in heptathlete Nadine Broersen, sprinter Churandy Martina and discus thrower Rutger Smith.
Great Britain's Rutherford holds four major titles - the Olympics, world, Commonwealth and Europeans - and this week will be the first time he has had to defend one of them.
But whatever happens, nothing will ever beat winning gold at the Olympics in London 2012 in front of his own crowd.
As he chatted, he looked across at Broersen, Martina and Smith and said: 'If you guys get to taste 10 per cent of what I experienced, then truly, having the home crowd behind you is the most amazing sensation in the world.
'You know the crowd is full of people from your home nation and singing the national anthem was so very special and emotional. It was my first title and will always be my greatest ever moment.'
The Dutch athletes here today will be among the favourites for their events with Martina competing in three: the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay.
He was the European 200m champion in Helsinki 2012 and cannot wait for the championships to start.
'My victory in Helsinki was pretty awesome,' said Martina. 'I put pressure on myself and there is no better place to do it than here at home.'
And his motto for success? 'When it is time, it is time,' he added, with a smile and a steely determination.
Broersen was the heptathlon silver medallist in Zurich two years ago and on the road to the Olympics she would love to break Dafne Schippers' national record of 6545 points.
She is so close, with a personal best of 6539, and has a big five weeks ahead with Amsterdam and Rio.
'I must go for gold,' said Broersen. 'I want a pb and a pb would most likely be a national record. I am in good shape and I am so excited to be competing.'
Smith is back after missing Zurich having torn his Achilles in 2013 and to return in the Netherlands, just drives him on even more.
He said: 'It has been tough and it feels great to be in my home country.'
Smith needs 65 metres to achieve the Rio standard and will take part in the discus competition in the unique setting in the centre of the city in the museum square.
'I am really looking to competing there - it should be great,' said Smith.
Lavillenie is chasing his eighth European title, with four indoor golds to go with his three outdoor outdoors.
And though the Olympics are next month, he knows how important these European Athletics Championships are.
'There is nothing like a championship,' said Lavillenie. 'In Helsinki 2012 when I won and then won the Olympics, I am not sure I would have done that in London had I not won in Helsinki.'
Rutherford and him chatted last summer on a bus at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing about the importance of being in Amsterdam.
And now they are here, relaxed and looking forward to what should be a spectacular week.