2021 Worlds are still on

[Winnie_20]

Yes, the “people from all over the globe” argument was made before, but I am not sure why that makes it so much unsafer. Testing is testing, no matter where you come from and with which plane you arrive. And most skaters come from... Europe, I think.
The virus mutations are already in Europe, too. Heck, the South African one was already in the Netherlands in January, apparently. Probably has made it to Sweden by now, too.

(edit: just saw norwegiandairytale’s post. Guess that confirms my above suspicion.)

It’s just a weird feeling I have. It’s like, people think it’s perfectly fine for skaters to risk their health in smaller competitions, but at Worlds, suddenly it’s a problem. I know, honestly, that’s not what’s happening here, but that’s what it comes across... :-( I just don’t get it. It’s not like the protocols would change so much between the events, surely.

Or it’s because there will be, dare I say it, Russian skaters and company at Worlds. But they’ll be at CC, too, and I’m not hearing a peep out of anybody there. ;-/

 

[norwegianfairytale]

Yes, the “people from all over the globe” argument was made before, but I am not sure why that makes it so much unsafer. Testing is testing, no matter where you come from and with which plane you arrive. And most skaters come from... Europe, I think.
The virus mutations are already in Europe, too. Heck, the South African one was already in the Netherlands in January, apparently. Probably has made it to Sweden by now, too.

(edit: just saw norwegiandairytale’s post. Guess that confirms my above suspicion.)

It’s just a weird feeling I have. It’s like, people think it’s perfectly fine for skaters to risk their health in smaller competitions, but at Worlds, suddenly it’s a problem. I know, honestly, that’s not what’s happening here, but that’s what it comes across... :-( I just don’t get it. It’s not like the protocols would change so much between the events, surely.

The South African strain is also in Sweden too, as well as Norway. And other nordic countries, you are right, it´s probably well established in Europe. Nevertheless, travel from different areas increases the risk of developing new strains, so it is still a risk that new strains can develope.

Do people automatically agree with other smaller competitions being arranged, if they have just pointed out Worlds? It´s possible to disagree without saying it loud. They probably picked Worlds to sign because it´s the big event and maybe they don´t even are familiar with the other small events.

 

[Winnie_20]

maybe they don´t even are familiar with the other small events.

Well... exactly. The problem I have with that is that people base their argument of the non-safety of the ISU protocols on... what? They are missing information, I guess. There is proof out there that the ISU bubble concept can work. It did work.

And the ISU know that very well. So any argument about the bubble itself being unsafe is probably going to get met with a laugh and an eyeroll... and ignored. I would, if I were the ISU.

People are gonna need much better arguments, I think, for that petition to have any kind of success.

 

[madraykin]

The ISU revised their Covid guidelines yesterday - https://t.co/VbJl9bVZDJ?amp=1

The changes all seem positive to me.

 

[CarolPooh]

It’s just a weird feeling I have. It’s like, people think it’s perfectly fine for skaters to risk their health in smaller competitions, but at Worlds, suddenly it’s a problem. I know, honestly, that’s not what’s happening here, but that’s what it comes across... :-( I just don’t get it. It’s not like the protocols would change so much between the events, surely.

Disclaimer: I don't represent other people and this is just my opinion.

I think the Covid measures of ALL competitions should be strict. However, I am more worried about Worlds because Olympics spots are on the line. Even if some skaters have concerns, they may be pressured by their fed to skate and earn the spots. While in CC, the stakes are lower and the skaters can (I hope) choose if they want to go themselves.

 

[figureskatingandrainbows]

Quick recap of new changes in ISU procedures:
Masks must now be worn in k&c, green room, during press conferences/interviews and the medal ceremonies
During medal ceremony, skaters will have to get medals, they will not be placed around necks
Air purifiers in dressing rooms & warm-up area, as well as in other commonly used spaces
Sanitization of physical therapy rooms
Mixed zones, press conferences, meetings, and interviews will all be virtual

Thumbs up from me!

 

[alexocfp]

It worked successfully at the World Speed Skating Championships and The European Short Track Championships. No reason why it can’t work next month.

They should take bets on which coach will be the first to make the mask an earring though. Or cheat by not covering the nose. Haha

 

[rollerblade]

Quick recap of new changes in ISU procedures:
Masks must now be worn in k&c, green room, during press conferences/interviews and the medal ceremonies
During medal ceremony, skaters will have to get medals, they will not be placed around necks
Air purifiers in dressing rooms & warm-up area, as well as in other commonly used spaces
Sanitization of physical therapy rooms
Mixed zones, press conferences, meetings, and interviews will all be virtual

Thumbs up from me!

Quite similar to Vegas Orleans setup then? Except for the "hotel bubble" I guess.

 

[figureskatingandrainbows]

Quite similar to Vegas Orleans setup then? Except for the "hotel bubble" I guess.

They actually recommend that only the teams stay in the hotel and that the hotel staff have regular testing/monitoring, so there's a sort of "hotel bubble".

 

[rollerblade]

Recommend ... meaning "not required"?

And if teams (coaches and team doctors included, I assume) can freely go anywhere besides designated hotel and rink during the event, then it's not a bubble.

 

[figureskatingandrainbows]

Recommend ... meaning "not required"?

And if teams (coaches and team doctors included, I assume) can freely go anywhere besides designated hotel and rink during the event, then it's not a bubble.

No one can leave the competition bubble, a.k.a the hotel and rink, assuming the same format is set up as was for Speed Skating.
Per the FAQ for Heerenveen,
"Are Skaters or Team personnel allowed to leave the CB and enter again for a next event in the CB?
No. Once a Skater or Team personnel enters the CB he or she is not allowed to leave and re-enter. If a Skater or Team personnel intentionally ‘escapes’ to go outside the CB, with the intention to come back discreetly, such person will have his Accreditation removed and will be excluded for the full period of the CB immediately. "

 

[rollerblade]

But that CB rules are for Heerenveen, not Stockholm. I can't read the PDF easily on my tiny phone screen without tons of scrolling and screen pinching lol, so I'm gonna assume they have not finalized the hotel bubble details at Stockholm. Good start though.

 

[SkatersWaltz]

What about the Gala? Without an audience, what is the point of having it? TV ratings for galas are traditionally not very high so it can't really be for that reason. In my opinion, it's not essential and therefore should be cancelled along with the banquet (which might already be).

 

[GoneWithTheWind]

What about the Gala? Without an audience, what is the point of having it? TV ratings for galas are traditionally not very high so it can't really be for that reason. In my opinion, it's not essential and therefore should be cancelled along with the banquet (which might already be).

If I remember correctly, the original guidance for all ISU events (GPs etc.) stated that banquets were not allowed, so there was probably never a plan for there to be one at Worlds.

The inclusion of the gala seems odd, especially, as you say, TV ratings are low.
I could see that they might have still included the individual exhibition performances from skaters (as a bit of fun/light relief at the end of Worlds), but, it seems from the guidance they are still plan to have the group opening/closing numbers which are probably a bit unnecessary, given the situation (even with the clear guidance on keeping distance/only interacting with their skating partner).

 

[eaglehelang]

Rrrrright.
I’m hoping for an explanation as to how is Worlds any different, read, less safe, than the speed skating? Or the Challenge Cup?
Why are people having such an issue with Worlds, when the ISU has already proven it can be done safely, and there are other figure skating events with MANY skaters (actually that Tallink thing is happening right now)?

What makes Worlds so special that it shouldn’t go ahead, but it’s fine for other events to take place? Surely it’s not because there are better skaters there? Last I checked, a virus really doesn’t distinguish between people based on their skating skills...

So why then? Surely the same kind of protocols are in place at ISU events?

Something about the guidelines released by ISU recently(19 Feb 2021) is more lax than other sports.

It is most definitely less stringent than we have here in the Asia Pacific region (Asia + Australia + New Zealand) :
1) No quarantine period
2) No continuous testing throughout the competition
3) No specified protocols on how to deal with the situation where one team member tests positive but others negative. Whole team quarantine or only the skater's coach & immediate team quarantine, etc.

No 1,2 and 3 is done by other sports like badminton(I mean there was mandatory quarantine, there was repeated testing, there was quarantine of team members). Another forumer pointed out sumo quarantined the team if one tested positive. In which some of those team members also tested positive later on.

 

[rollerblade]

ISU can setup their guidelines as a baseline, but they will still have to comply with local requirements. If Sweden decide to mandate quarantine for all incoming travelers including athletes, ISU can't override it with their "lax guidelines".

 

[Amei]

ISU can setup their guidelines as a baseline, but they will still have to comply with local requirements. If Sweden decide to mandate quarantine for all incoming travelers including athletes, ISU can't override it with their "lax guidelines".

Well if the ISU was over a lucrative sport then I would disagree, if the right palms are greased then all of a sudden covid guidelines do not exist.

 

[pearly]

Er, not sure how relevant it might be to the thread, but there's a change dot org petition going around on Twitter called "#NoQuarantineNoWorlds". Not going to paste it in just in case the staff doesn't like it, but they take issue with how the athletes are being quarantined and how the bubble is being set up.

Y’know, I am not into petitions of any sort, but if someone can show me evidence that Worlds is less safe than all the other events, then sure, I will sign it. I mean, that would be BAD.

But for now, it just confuses me. Apparently people seem to know something that I don’t... ;-)

Skating Twitter is a really bad place to be right now. I unfollowed figure skating as a whole because my feed is flooded by all these people who crawled out of nowhere to demand ISU cancel worlds or s--- all over Russians for not behaving in accordance with, say, Canada's or their own personal guidelines and restrictions.

I used to be a skater and have followed the sport religiously for eight years now. (I took a break for a few years after I ended my career.) Ever since major events have been canceled due to Covid, I have started losing interest. I hope this WC takes place, but I can't really guarantee I will care enough to watch it. However, I think it really needs to take place for both fans and the skaters themselves. And let me tell you, if I had any business being there (as a skater, volunteer, official or even an audience member), I'd go. And yes, I know there is a pandemic out there, I don't think it's made up, I wear my mask etc. But I'd still go.

 

[Amei]

Y’know, I am not into petitions of any sort, but if someone can show me evidence that Worlds is less safe than all the other events, then sure, I will sign it. I mean, that would be BAD.

But for now, it just confuses me. Apparently people seem to know something that I don’t... ;-)

Its not that people know something that you don't, its that they FEEL something that you don't, and they feel fear.

 

[pearly]

Its not that people know something that you don't, its that they FEEL something that you don't, and they feel fear.

That's ok, good thing no one's forcing them to leave their homes, towns or countries and go to Sweden.