2021 Worlds are still on

[alexaa]

Notwithstanding RusFed's power, the local organizers are answerable to the Swedish government if they don't enforce the rules; it's not something they can just ignore happening.

Yes, on top of that, the other big three feds, the US, Japan and Canada wouldn’t be OK with their skaters being exposed to potential risks of skaters of other countries not adhering to the rules in the bubble.

Speaking of the Challenge Cup, skaters were wearing masks during the award ceremony. They picked up their medals and flowers from 3 stands, did victory lap, and posed for pictures, 6 feet apart without audiences. I didn’t see Misha had any problems

 

[LadyB]

As I stated earlier: why wouldn't the Russian skaters, coaches and the whole team conform with the local rules in place? The Dutch skating Federation isn't bigger or more powerful than the Swedish one (in Speed Skating maybe, but definitely not in Figure Skating), and the Russians complied with the rules in place that were required at The Challenge Cup. That they might not do that at home, or perhaps the requirements are less strict at home, doesn't make me feel worried about their behaviour at an international event like Worlds at all. They will comply, if it's demanded of them. Just like everyone else. If only to maintain their spots (and they are bound to protect and perhaps extend (with the men) those). And if they don't, well there's enforcement for you. And I see no reason to think the Swedish will live and let live anyone who doesn't comply. Powerful federation or not.

 

[DSQ]

Sorry, then, let me rephrase.

You seriously think tiny little Skate Sweden will have the guts and/or power to remove the large and powerful RuFed from the Olympic qualifier?

Yes because it’s not the Swedish Figure Skating Federation vs the Russian Federation, it’s the Russian Federation vs the Swedish Government.

I have no doubt the government will cancel it if it’s clear the rules aren’t being followed, last minute if need be.

 

[norwegianfairytale]

Stockholm is hitting the third wave now. Numbers of cases have almost doubled in three weeks now, according to this article.

Apparently the Italian team is also leaving the World Ski Championship now because they got Covid.

 

[yqs100]

Stockholm is hitting the third wave now. Numbers of cases have almost doubled in three weeks now, according to this article.

Apparently the Italian team is also leaving the World Ski Championship now because they got Covid.

ISU should cancel the event..........

 

[figureskatingandrainbows]

The ISU just confirmed that Worlds are still on and are still an Olympic qualifying event, as was previously planned. The World Team Trophy is also still planned assuming Japan lifts their state of emergency in time.

Other news includes cancellation of the 2021 ISU Congress and the allotment for spots at the 2021 Junior Grand Prix based on Junior Worlds 2020.
ISU Decision

 

[anonymoose_au]

The ISU just confirmed that Worlds are still on and are still an Olympic qualifying event, as was previously planned.

That's all well and good but do they have a back-up plan in case Sweden is closed down by their government?

I have a feeling they don't and this could blow up in their faces, not to mention the skaters...

 

[ruga]

I heard somewhere that Budapest can be used as an alternate venue, but only if Sweden cancels some time before, not last minute and I don't think Hungary is doing much better right now.

Other legitimate option can be swapping WTT for Worlds if Japan agrees, as it's not nearly as important

ISU itself 99% won't cancel, it's only up to Swedish authorities.

 

[eaglehelang]

Sorry, then, let me rephrase.

You seriously think tiny little Skate Sweden will have the guts and/or power to remove the large and powerful RuFed from the Olympic qualifier?

The Sweden government does. Their authority overides ISU in terms of health concerns in Sweden.

Thailand government had no qualms abt enforcing the rules in regards to Covid protocols. At an International badminton tournament in Thailand.
If the authorities wanted, they have could shut down the whole tournament once a player tested positive.

 

[Colonel Green]

That's all well and good but do they have a back-up plan in case Sweden is closed down by their government?

There’s no viable backup in a case like this. Moving the event to another location on a few weeks’ notice wouldn’t be possible. Either it happens or it doesn’t.

 

[Amei]

There’s no viable backup in a case like this. Moving the event to another location on a few weeks’ notice wouldn’t be possible. Either it happens or it doesn’t.

Didn't they have to do that for moving worlds from Japan to Moscow after the tsunamis or earthquake?

 

[Colonel Green]

Didn't they have to do that for moving worlds from Japan to Moscow after the tsunamis or earthquake?

They delayed the event by a month to move it to Moscow (which also required some extraordinary assistance from the Russian government with visas, etc.). I was talking about moving the event to the original schedule.

Given all the extra pandemic measures I’m not sure such a move would be possible on a similar timeframe either, but hoped we don’t have to find out.

 

[mrrice]

ISU should cancel the event..........

With sadness, I agree. It's been a rough year but, I think the skaters are probably resigned to how things are going. Personally, I'd be afaid to travel under the current circumstances. The Olympics are around the corner and the skaters need to make sure they're healthy when they roll around.

My only worry is for a country like Canada who is looking to get a second spot for their Men. If worlds are cancelled, how will the commitee handle that situation?

 

[norwegianfairytale]

I´m really concerned now because for the first time since the pandemic started, one of the hospitals in Norway has a full ICU, they already started to cancel planned operations, and they are starting to transfer patients to other nearby hospitals. This is particular scary because the total number in hospitals are (until further) lower than before, and yet the ICU wasn´t full then. It means that more of the patients needs ICU because of the mutation, which they have experienced in other countries as well. The scariest thing is that the numbers are still rising so we havn´t peaked yet.

With the rise of mutation in Sweden as well, i´m really worried for the health care system there. Because of Swedens experimental strategy last spring, i´m afraid the health system is more fragile in Stockholm, the health workers must be really tired and there are probably less of them because of long covid and stress.

With the rise of ICU patients in more countries, it will be more difficult for the countries to help each other.

Stockholm also has the lowest vaccination rate of all regions in Sweden now.

With the recent development, i´m think the safest thing would be to cancel.

It´s both a great risk for the residents in Stockholm who needs to get the numbers down and for the skaters and team who are exposed for the virus and if they need to go to the hospital. When ICU is full, they start cancelling operations. Hospitals in Sweden have earlier been postponing operations on children with urgent bones fractures. With figure skating being a high risk sport for bone fractures, I fear that in a worst case scenario, skaters have to fly home with painful bone fractures to be operated at home.

 

[NaVi]

Starting to think it might be best to give spots for the Olympics(and perhaps worlds) based off of a countries ISU rankings of their skaters than on previous Worlds performance. They already kind of do that for the team event and world team trophy.

 

[figureskatingandrainbows]

ISU confirms the Speed Skating Bubble at Heerenveen had no positive COVID-19 cases throughout the entire event, even after travelling home.
Source

 

[Big Deal]

Anybody knows what happened to Papadakis-Cizeron not being entered? I am sure that I lost some important announcement....

 

[ramurphy2005]

Anybody knows what happened to Papadakis-Cizeron not being entered? I am sure that I lost some important announcement....

They put out a press release a few weeks ago that they were skipping worlds this year.

 

[karne]

Here are some interesting articles from Yale about why indoor ice rinks are inherently a higher risk:

https://twitter.com/YaleSPH/status/1367568043598094345

https://twitter.com/YaleSPH/status/1365025151616577538

So Sweden's numbers are rising, ice rinks are inherently riskier, the coaching/officials group is generally in the higher-risk groups, getting the 'rona can shorten or end an athletic career, we've got proof over and over that one of the largest contingents can't be trusted to follow protocols, and...

...people are still calling those who want it to be cancelled fearful whingers.

 

[anonymoose_au]

ISU confirms the Speed Skating Bubble at Heerenveen had no positive COVID-19 cases throughout the entire event, even after travelling home.
Source

That's good news!

Is it the exact same bubble conditions as the World's will have? With only a few days between arriving and the event starting? That's my biggest concern, because without actual quarantine (2 weeks), the situation is still super delicate.