Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club

[el henry]

And just who is taking 3/4 of those photos? (at least)

Presenting "Zhenya and Friends", with guest stars from all over the world, and cinematographer Jason Brown

 

[Yatagarasu]

In re to what we talked about when it comes to Boyang - he is in Qingdao. It seems like he will be training there for the next month. It's a summer camp where kids can skate with the skaters from the national team.
So in any case, at the earliest, he'll be at TCC in August.

 

[eaglehelang]

I sincerely think that folks may be making too much of this...

Why look for a 'statement'?

Having a national star spend some visible time at home may be a matter of dignity before he heads to another country to train...

And China may have wanted the dust to settle after the ISU meetings, including the GP assignments, before having Boyang on site at TCC...

But that doesn't add up to 'a statement'...especially when the fed has to be looking to do whatever it takes to have him on the podium in 2022. I doubt the Chinese federation is focused on anything but the 4 year plan for the podium.

And with that longer view, being fully funded doesn't necessarily mean that time with family and home community isn't a consideration.... He's been training in Beijing and is planned to go overseas, so it may be seen as important to give Boyang some time to affirm relationships in his region.

No one raises questions when Yuzu spends a good part of the summer in Japan...

Lastly, the point about taking the time to get the visa lined up is a valid one. He's going to need a long term visa...

As someone from Harbin, he would need to go through the consular services at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing. I don't know what the current situation is, vs the Canadian consulate-generals serving other parts of China, but my recollection is that it can be a long wait to get a visa in Beijing.

Doesnt Yuzuru have a major sponsor, ANA? There's a difference between corporate sponsorship and government sponsorship or taxpayers $$$$.

Didnt Yuzuru arrive in Toronto the 1st time fairly early? Like May? Then came straight from the airport to the rink and did some jumps to show Orser? On the 1st day itself. Of course people arent complaining.

Its July and Boyang havent made any appearance yet, unless he quietly shifted some things already. Packing and shifting across continents can be a huge hassle. The other newcomers have arrived, settled in.

I'm not from China but sports which is fully funded (i.e. taxpayers money) dont get to choose their coach . Or partner if its a doubles event. They cant fire the coach they dont like, they cannot stop their association/government from replacing their beloved coach who produced World champions. Sure, the top performers(as in OG medalists, world champions) can protest but even they dont have final say.
China is even more strict judging from the way they run their sports.

 

[yoloaxel]

In re to what we talked about when it comes to Boyang - he is in Qingdao. It seems like he will be training there for the next month. It's a summer camp where kids can skate with the skaters from the national team.
So in any case, at the earliest, he'll be at TCC in August.

Good to know! Although August seems kinda late, no?

- - - Updated - - -

And just who is taking 3/4 of those photos? (at least)

Presenting "Zhenya and Friends", with guest stars from all over the world, and cinematographer Jason Brown

I now need the Friends theme with the TCC family

 

[eaglehelang]

You totally don’t get it. I repeat my words: Chinese fed really really really want to send Boyang to TCC. And they did. They made a deal with TCC. Brian Orser would never speak out about accepting Boyang permanently if he was not sure of the deal. The part on Chinese fed was done. The part on TCC was done as well.

The rest is up to Boyang himself. Does he really want it? I support his decision no matter what. After all, it is his career.

Precisely what I meant - either way it is not for Boyang to decide. If its decided Boyang will go, he must go, regardless whether he likes it or not.

As for China skating fed, there are authorities higher than them who can veto the decision. If the higher ups decide to delay or stop Boyang going for whatever reason, China Fed has to adhere, whether they like it or not.

Read what happened to the Sweden skater. He qualified and wanted to go OG 2018. His skating fed wanted him to go. BUT he was not allowed to go by the higher ups. There was a whole thread on this in this forum.

This type of scenarios should not be surprising at all, esp for fully funded sports.
And yes, I have seen it happen to my country's athletes, for crazier reasons.

 

[TGee]

And just who is taking 3/4 of those photos? (at least)

Presenting "Zhenya and Friends", with guest stars from all over the world, and cinematographer Jason Brown[emoji3]

Well, as Luba has now officially departed 'her home ice rink' for her tour with Cirque du Soleil it looks like she's had to pass off the role of the "who's at TCC?' photographer....

Great that Jason's taken it on with enthusiasm...

But Luba's been such an upbeat voice from TCC that she'll be missed...

 

[4everchan]

Doesnt Yuzuru have a major sponsor, ANA? There's a difference between corporate sponsorship and government sponsorship or taxpayers $$$$.

Didnt Yuzuru arrive in Toronto the 1st time fairly early? Like May? Then came straight from the airport to the rink and did some jumps to show Orser? On the 1st day itself. Of course people arent complaining.

Its July and Boyang havent made any appearance yet, unless he quietly shifted some things already. Packing and shifting across continents can be a huge hassle. The other newcomers have arrived, settled in.

I'm not from China but sports which is fully funded (i.e. taxpayers money) dont get to choose their coach . Or partner if its a doubles event. They cant fire the coach they dont like, they cannot stop their association/government from replacing their beloved coach who produced World champions. Sure, the top performers(as in OG medalists, world champions) can protest but even they dont have final say.
China is even more strict judging from the way they run their sports.

comparing Boyang with anyone else is not relevant... he will arrive when he can/has decided. TGee raised a very important point. Chinese residents NEED a long term VISA... he is not a student... this is probably considered as a "work" VISA or maybe they have a special VISA for athletes... it can take several weeks to obtain, especially during this time of the year.

I am sure Boyang will appear before September... he may have decided to spend some quality time with his family as who knows, maybe he is planning to stay in Canada for a longer part of the year as some others who go back and forth.... and that would fit your comment about tax payers.... they wouldn't like Boyang to be back to China every other month.... they will want him to stick around Toronto until he gets good results.

 

[TGee]

comparing Boyang with anyone else is not relevant... he will arrive when he can/has decided. TGee raised a very important point. Chinese residents NEED a long term VISA... he is not a student... this is probably considered as a "work" VISA or maybe they have a special VISA for athletes... it can take several weeks to obtain, especially during this time of the year.

I am sure Boyang will appear before September... he may have decided to spend some quality time with his family as who knows, maybe he is planning to stay in Canada for a longer part of the year as some others who go back and forth.... and that would fit your comment about tax payers.... they wouldn't like Boyang to be back to China every other month.... they will want him to stick around Toronto until he gets good results.

I'm also thinking that the commitment to be at the training camp is longstanding...

And it is likely that he won't be able to do it in future years..

On the visa, Luba had to hang out in Detroit for 6 weeks just to get a tourist visa...and then had to go back to Russia for a month to get a long term visa...

Lil Bet took the better part of a season to get the long term visa...Orser commented that she was only able to come for a couple of months at a time as a tourist at first.

And the Beijing embassy has a general reputation of having to handle high volume which can lead to waits for visas to Canada, especially ones that need a lot of supporting documentation...

 

[4everchan]

I'm also thinking that the commitment to be at the training camp is longstanding...

And it is likely that he won't be able to do it in future years..

On the visa, Luba had to hang out in Detroit for 6 weeks just to get a tourist visa...and then had to go back to Russia for a month to get a long term visa...

Lil Bet took the better part of a season to get the long term visa...Orser commented that she was only able to come for a couple of months at a time as a tourist at first.

And the Beijing embassy has a general reputation of having to handle high volume which can lead to waits for visas to Canada, especially ones that need a lot of supporting documentation...

and on top of that.... maybe they were waiting to see in which GP events he would go, to figure out other paper work.... remember how misha ge was caught up as his papers were not ready for France?

 

[LucyH]

I'm also thinking that the commitment to be at the training camp is longstanding...

And it is likely that he won't be able to do it in future years..

On the visa, Luba had to hang out in Detroit for 6 weeks just to get a tourist visa...and then had to go back to Russia for a month to get a long term visa...

Lil Bet took the better part of a season to get the long term visa...Orser commented that she was only able to come for a couple of months at a time as a tourist at first.

And the Beijing embassy has a general reputation of having to handle high volume which can lead to waits for visas to Canada, especially ones that need a lot of supporting documentation...

Reading all the visa issues - it looks like it has been pretty smooth (so far anyway) for Evgenia...

 

[4everchan]

Reading all the visa issues - it looks like it has been pretty smooth (so far anyway) for Evgenia...

china is very difficult... i used to work for an organization who would welcome chinese musicians for one month in the summer... if we were not notifying them at least 3 months ahead of time, they couldn't get the paperwork in time...

also from the timeline of events, it seems to look like Evgenia was preparing her move since Korea... Boyang's move is much more recent, at least in the news...

 

[khtmyzr]

also from the timeline of events, it seems to look like Evgenia was preparing her move since Korea... Boyang's move is much more recent, at least in the news...

From this article, I think Boyang's move was initiated first.
http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2018/05/31/279137174

The new president of the Chinese Skating Association, Xue Shen, the 2010 Olympic pairs champion with husband Hongbo Zhao, approached Orser at worlds in March to discuss the possibility of his coaching Jin. The skater staggered into 19th place at worlds after winning bronze the previous two years.

"With the next Winter Olympics in Beijing, she (Shen) is shaking things up a little," Orser said. "I know it's about medals, medals, medals in Beijing."

Orser said Wednesday he has had no extended conversation with Jin since the deal was struck. They chatted briefly at a show in South Korea last month, when Orser also had the meeting with Medvedeva that led to her upcoming training move to Canada.

But it might be possible Evgenia's move was finalized first and perhaps got to prepare her move earlier like you suggested.

 

[Yatagarasu]

Precisely what I meant - either way it is not for Boyang to decide. If its decided Boyang will go, he must go, regardless whether he likes it or not.

Yes, this is essentially correct.
This is how CSA functions. They pay for everything and they have a final say in everything. You don't get to pick.
It is possible though that they allowed for this camp and for Boyang's extension of stay in China, if Brian had said it would be all right even with it. We can only guess.

About the visa, this has been in the works for months (and they were finalized around the same time iirc) so I don't know if this is a concern or not but it may not be and rather just a simple postponing to give him more time at home before he finally relocates. It's not a small thing, moving like that.
Yes, Zhenya jumped into it with both feet and a smile but not all peeps are alike and she has the advantage of having conversational English, that is now rapidly improving as she is past that awkward stage. Might be another concern as Boyang doesn't speak it but does understand some, so they might be working on that too to make it easier on him, even with the translator present. It does seem a bit late overall but it should be fine.

 

[TGee]

From this article, I think Boyang's move was initiated first.
http://web.icenetwork.com/news/2018/05/31/279137174


But it might be possible Evgenia's move was finalized first and perhaps got to prepare her move earlier like you suggested.

Even if initiated first, it just may take longer from China despite the lack of Canadian consular services in Mosow. (And that issue may be why Zhenya needed to apply for the visa from a third country...)

TCC and Skate Canada having more recent experience with Lil Bet's and Luba's visas and immigration process from Russia may have helped smooth the way for Zhenya.

But sincerely from what we all hear in Canada about visa services in our Beijing embassy, there isn't much that can be done to get speed things. 3 months is typical.

Relatively recently, the situation was so bad that it was high profile issue in the national media in Canada. A deal between Canada and China for new visa offices in China to issue multiple-entry visas to Canada was announced in 2015, but certain areas in the Northeast, including Harbin, still have to go through Beijing.

 

[Tavi...]

Well, all I can say is that I’m looking forward to Boyang’s arrival at TCC, whenever it is!

 

[believed]

A long awaited picture of Evgenia and BOrser! https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk1D5M0hpUn/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=coj98ae6scea

 

[Mrs. P]

Meanwhile, in case anyone for a second thought that Jason would let go of his USA roots now that he's in Toronto (like there is no one who thinks that, really), he decided that he would bring the Fourth of July to TCC. And got a bunch of non-Americans to play along, LOL.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk1EUn6DD4j/?taken-by=joseph_phan_
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk1A1I3DK3X/?taken-by=paistrop

 

[TGee]

A long awaited picture of Evgenia and BOrser! https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk1D5M0hpUn/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=coj98ae6scea

Uhm, does this suggest that Brian might be expected to accompany Zhenya to the Russian test skates?

That's the event where Zhenya's coach will need to show her Russian home club affiliation..

 

[KiraraChin]

Uhm, does this suggest that Brian might be expected to accompany Zhenya to the Russian test skates?

That's the event where Zhenya's coach will need to show her Russian home club affiliation..

I certainly hope so! :luv17:

 

[yoloaxel]

A long awaited picture of Evgenia and BOrser! https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk1D5M0hpUn/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=coj98ae6scea

Epic.