Taiwan to get Four Continents again in 2016!

I was reading through communications published by the ISU and it seems that Chinese Taipei is hosting the Four Continents again.

I love Taiwan, it's a great country and the food is delicious and the history and culture is astounding but seeing the below woeful turnout in the first couple of days and the lack of live or not live broadcasters was especially disappointing but for some reason, the ISU has given the host of the 2016 competition back to Taiwan!

I am wondering why that is the case because Figure Skating is not a star sport in Taiwan and there are so many other cities the ISU can choose that will draw more people to watch. And if they want the popularity of the sport to grow in small nations, there are other small skating nations that they could explore! It baffles me as it Chinese Taipei doesn't seem like a big player in the congress.

Maybe more in North America or China or Japan or maybe even Hong Kong or the Philippines (This nation has had a sudden rush of good skaters!). Or Australia (The ISU did take the 2000 Worlds away from Australia and gave it to France- I wonder if Didier of the French Federation had anything to do with that?)...i don't know but somewhere else would be great- I'm not picking on a country (I am part Chinese) but for the sake of promoting skating, the ISU need to make better decisions and venture out.

What are your thoughts?

I believe that the problem is more finding someone who is willing to host it. This competition is never very popular or well-attended and, I am pretty sure, always loses money for the organizers.

Most of the ice rinks in Hong Kong and Philippines locates in the shopping malls. I'm sure they are not up to the ISU standard.

Taiwan seems to be more than happy to spend lots and lots of money with figure skating lately. Not so sure why they fail to bring up the popularity.

Australia will be one of the best options, really.

neither 4cc in Colorado Springs 2012 was very crowded, and in Taipei at least they give the tickets free and I think Korea would be great for another 4cc.
I was more surprised and dissapointed with Cup of Russia, Sochi is so close and Russia have so many good skaters, so I would thought people were excited in Russia, but no. Skate America 2013 was full with japanese people, so american people are not very interesed in FS. The only good countries for 4cc are Japan and Canada, but if Taiwan can absorb the costs of a competition like that it is ok, and with big names people will go, when Mao was in 4cc in Taiwan japanese people went there.

Mathman said:

I believe that the problem is more finding someone who is willing to host it. This competition is never very popular or well-attended and, I am pretty sure, always loses money for the organizers.

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Make Singapore its permanent home, make it a figure skating exposition featuring skating clubs, manufactures, symposiums, work shops, etc, etc, etc, and let the skating event be the central attraction; there, done.

Taiwan was pretty good in terms of attendees back in 2011. This season, likely many of the Takahashi/Asada fans from Japan didn't attend like they would've back in 2011.

Part of me wonders if Taiwan does it because there is some talk of them bidding for the Olympics at some point. In that context, hosting of international sports events is a big plus. Who knows though.

chapis said:

I was more surprised and dissapointed with Cup of Russia, Sochi is so close and Russia have so many good skaters, so I would thought people were excited in Russia, but no.

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I was personally quite surprised to see the apparent lack of attendance at Russian Nationals this year, at least judging from YouTube videos of the event.

I would not mind if 4CC was in Vancouver again. It's been 5 years anyways, so... I'm up for it.

BusyMom said:

Most of the ice rinks in Hong Kong and Philippines locates in the shopping malls. I'm sure they are not up to the ISU standard.

Taiwan seems to be more than happy to spend lots and lots of money with figure skating lately. Not so sure why they fail to bring up the popularity.

Australia will be one of the best options, really.

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There should be a a large indoor arena in hong kong. With skating on the rise in asia, and the fact that china is really making positive strides in improving in all four main disciplines makes Hong Kong a wise choice. Its also a central economic hub of Asia- think of all the new sponsorship opportunities.

The Philippines might need more time but they have made big strides in the mens singles discipline and the ISU held a skating development camp and competition in the philippines last year.

I know this might be a weird thing to say but i think Australia would love it if they hosted 4CC. This sport is so different to all the sports Australian TV broadcast thatit just might work. Australians love a good discussion, debate or rant and there are so many things people can talk about skating. Last olympics, the australian broadcasters showed alot of figure skating (like most of the short programs and the top10 free skates at least) and had ALOT of panel discussions about figure skating from the quad controversy to costumes to music etc. This year Australia hosted its first Senior International B and live streamed its national championships and we also had a JGP a couple of years ago- baby steps...

Taiwan probably wants to host because their Japanized, rather feminine culture totally digs figure skating. They like all things sweet and cutsy. It's a good thing, a brand new market for figure skating. I watched the Taiwanese broadcast a bit and the commentators were completely in love with Zijun Li. If Zijun were to be one of their own I believe Taiwanese media could totally make her into their own Mao Asada, whereas in China, figure skating is not a major sport by any means and no one apart from an OGM will get much attention.

They should find some US skaters with Taiwanese parents to compete for them. Karen Chen has Taiwanese parents.

I also wonder why Australia can't host a 4CC. Seems like a 4CC outside of the main 2C should at least happen once.

another year with 20 - 50 people in the audience ?
maybe Australia should try hosting

GF2445 said:

I know this might be a weird thing to say but i think Australia would love it if they hosted 4CC. This sport is so different to all the sports Australian TV broadcast thatit just might work. Australians love a good discussion, debate or rant and there are so many things people can talk about skating. Last olympics, the australian broadcasters showed alot of figure skating (like most of the short programs and the top10 free skates at least) and had ALOT of panel discussions about figure skating from the quad controversy to costumes to music etc. This year Australia hosted its first Senior International B and live streamed its national championships and we also had a JGP a couple of years ago- baby steps...

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Yeap. Remember the JGP in Brisbane because it was the one with Jason Brown. lol. Nice rink with decent audio system. Nice size of audiences too.

Too bad, with Russian Fed behinds it all, The JGPs always end up in eastern European country. With no direct flight, very little attendance and very chabby rink, no wonder only the Russian babies dominate the fields since they've been competed in these rinks on regular basis.

well, at least there is one JGP in Japan next season. can't wait...

I wonder if Australia doesn't host 4CC because it is Summer there at the time 4CC takes place

I hope South Korea hosts before the next Olympics.

I bet they'd like to get a run-through for one of the marquee events in the OWG.

I also bet Yuna could/probably would do a lot to market a 4CC in SK.

noidont said:

Taiwan probably wants to host because their Japanized, rather feminine culture totally digs figure skating.

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I guess that lets out Hong Kong, with their Britishized masculine culture that groves on cricket players in their spiffy whites.

noidont said:

Taiwan probably wants to host because their Japanized, and this idea of feminine culture totally digs figure skating. They like all things sweet and cutsy. It's a good thing, a brand new market for figure skating. I watched the Taiwanese broadcast a bit and the commentators were completely in love with Zijun Li. If Zijun were to be one of their own I believe Taiwanese media could totally make her into their own Mao Asada, whereas in China, figure skating is not a major sport by any means and no one apart from an OGM will get much attention.

They should find some US skaters with Taiwanese parents to compete for them. Karen Chen has Taiwanese parents.

I also wonder why Australia can't host a 4CC. Seems like a 4CC outside of the main 2C should at least happen once.

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I am sorry, but that is just ridiculous stereotype. Where did you get this idea Taiwan is Japanized? And where did you get this idea the culture is feminized and dig figure skating? Taiwan up the top of my head practices many sports, with different forms of Martial arts, kids love Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Badminton, Tenis and Table Tennis, and does more than decent internationally in Baseball, few of them pitch for US major leagues, tennis (Lu Yen-HSun knocked out Andy Roddick at Wimbledon), Taekwondo (2 gold medals in summer olympics '04) and Golf superstar Yani Tseng to name a few.

Do you consider Singapore = Malaysian? Hongkong = British? Korea = Japanese? It is clearly more Chinese and Confucians in roots but has their own localized distinctive culture (Mixture of Chinese, Hokkien, Taoisim/Buddhism and Taiwanese aboriginal/folk culture, it does inherit some influences of the Dutch, the Portuguese and Japanese who tries to settled on the island briefly) that strives not to be too Chinese either. Like Singapore that has a high Chinese population (half of which studies Mandarin in school as well as English), it still celebrate its distinctively Singlish culture too in its colloquialism. As for all things sweet and cutesy, same things apply ALL over Asia. Japan don't own cute, although certainly they took it to new saccharin heights.

I doubt they want their own Mao Asada ... why on earth anyone want a Mao when they can have a Yuna wannabe? Or more precisely why would they want either Mao or a Yuna, when they can have a Zijun little cousin from across the pond that is 100% Chinese?! They do appreciate all cultures include Japan for sure, as well as Korea, Thai, Vietnam even Mongolia and India which are quite popular among the food eateries culture as well as the usual Western cuisines. Mandarin is its core language as well as localised Hokkien language, it s hardly what you claim. Bunch of my British friends back packed there last year and commented it is a very friendly island country with distinctive hubs of cultures in the north and the south, amazing food, genuinely nice and friendly people, above average English literacy and easy to get around and most importantly, they feel very safe. They didn't know why they hadn't gone there before. Anyway I highly recommend Taiwan, you want luxury, you can get super luxury, you want cheap easy and affordable, you can get good value for money too.

As for skaters, they currently have Melanie Chang, who grew up/train in the US who were at Golden Spin recently. Crystal Kiang who took part at recent 4CCs and at last years NRW Trophy. US skater Karen Chen is a spectacular talent, love her to bits, she seems like a happy optimistic kid with great creativity and imagination but only the sort of very best of US environment can nurture, good luck to her. Michelle Kwan is an American Chinese, but would never had the opportunity if she skated for Hongkong? Similarly with Patrick Chan, will he struggle if he for China? Or take outside skating, Jeremy Lin who's parents were originally from Taiwan too but there's no way he'd have achieve everything of the sort if his family had stayed there.

I like the idea of more countries to be able host the 4CC like Australia, in fact more minor federations can host the better. Unfortunately money is an issue. In a way Taiwan not having their own great skater actually makes it a more of 'fairer' contest compare to every other competitions out there. While free ticket can prove a great incentives for the skating fans to attend, but only goes so far. I wouldn't mind seeing Singapore host it actually, it is so small and easy to get around and I know they have the money. Or get the Macau casino bosses to put up the money (why not a wager), they have plenty there, now Macau has over took Las Vegas as the worlds biggest gambling haven.

As for the complaints about coverage, beggars can't be choosers. There are many paid service if you want to see, or rely on your own private network of skating aficionados who might just help you out.

TontoK said:

I hope South Korea hosts before the next Olympics.

I bet they'd like to get a run-through for one of the marquee events in the OWG.

I also bet Yuna could/probably would do a lot to market a 4CC in SK.

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Provisional Allotement ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2015
9 - 15 Feb 2015 Seoul South Korea (Official ISU info)

I love Taiwan. I think it's a good choice because it's easily accessible with non stop flights form the US and all over Asia. I will be interested to see if Bangkok tries to get in on the action in the coming years. They have a few skaters turning up in these competitions and there seems to be a growing interest in skating there. They've also got very nice facilities for hosting such and event.

os168 said:

I am sorry, but that is just ridiculous stereotype. Where did you get this idea Taiwan is Japanized? And where did you get this idea the culture is feminized and dig figure skating? Taiwan up the top of my head practices many sports, with different forms of Martial arts, kids love Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Badminton, Tenis and Table Tennis, and does more than decent internationally in Baseball, few of them pitch for US major leagues, tennis (Lu Yen-HSun knocked out Andy Roddick at Wimbledon), Taekwondo (2 gold medals in summer olympics '04) and Golf superstar Yani Tseng to name a few.

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As a Taiwanese, I know noidont's post, albeit somewhat exaggerated and not very politically correct, wasn't too far off from the truth regarding the country's affection for all things Japanese and cutsy, particularly among the younger generation. I also find Asian countries in general are much more welcoming toward activities that are otherwise considered by the populater western culture as "feminine". Figure skating there is deemed more as a "high art" rather than just a sport for the gays.

shine said:

As a Taiwanese, I know noidont's post, albeit somewhat exaggerated and not very politically correct, wasn't too far off from the truth regarding the country's affection for all things Japanese and cutsy, particularly among the younger generation. I also find Asian countries in general are much more welcoming toward activities that are otherwise considered by the populater western culture as "feminine". Figure skating there is deemed more as a "high art" rather than just a sport for the gays.

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Finally, intelligent people :agree:, I love them