ISU Where Will Worlds BE (formerly) JAPAN QUAKE FOR WORLDS

[janetfan]

Thanks for the links, ing! Percy Nilsson is a rich investor and sports organizer in Sweden, and he is offering to fund and organize the World Championships ASAP (although he is a bit of a sketchy character). This is yet another confirmation that there are people and organizations willing to step in to host the WC sooner than October. Clearly, it is not impossible to host the WC sooner than October.

It seems to me that delaying the championships is mainly because the ISU thinks it will generate more revenue (respect to Japan my fanny!). And it doesn't seem likely that that will change. I am disgusted that the ISU put the immediate and tangible concerns for the athletes aside for some far-from-guaranteed monetary gain.

Do you think the skaters should revolt
Maybe start a new skating union that puts the skaters first and the ISU and federations in a secondary position?

No chance of that hapenning. I am just surprised that you are only disgusted with ISU now. I have been disgusted with them for many years and for many different reasons. :yes:

 

[purplegirl]

Speedy's latest interview with Phil Hersh: sounds like muddled reasoning to me: Why wouldn't skaters want to compete in May? And why, when asked what if a lot of skaters won't be able to compete in Oct, he doesn't seem to care and says it's all a "lottery"? I don't understand the logic at all.

 

[blue dog]

Speedy's latest interview with Phil Hersh: sounds like muddled reasoning to me: Why wouldn't skaters want to compete in May? And why, when asked what if a lot of skaters won't be able to compete in Oct, he doesn't seem to care and says it's all a "lottery"? I don't understand the logic at all.

I think he is forgetting that this is FIGURE skating, and not SPEED skating. In speed skating, Worlds in October might be a good idea, since you can use the summer to train full-tilt. In speed skating, you don't lose jumps should your body decide to change on you.

On another note, will there be skaters who were ineligible for worlds in March who will suddenly be eligible for worlds in October?

 

[Serious Business]

I am just surprised that you are only disgusted with ISU now. I have been disgusted with them for many years and for many different reasons. :yes:

D: I am horrified that I gave the impression I was not disgusted with the ISU before.

Speedy's latest interview with Phil Hersh: sounds like muddled reasoning to me: Why wouldn't skaters want to compete in May? And why, when asked what if a lot of skaters won't be able to compete in Oct, he doesn't seem to care and says it's all a "lottery"? I don't understand the logic at all.

Q. Are you worried the level of performances in October will not be very good?

A. It may be in October it would be better than in May. This is a lottery.

Head meet desk.

 

[Violet Bliss]

Head meet desk.

And me------------>

Probable all the skaters and their coaches too.

 

[blue dog]

D: I am horrified that I gave the impression I was not disgusted with the ISU before.





Head meet desk.

I think the skaters need to get together, collectively change their programs to Cee Lo Green's popular hit, post it on youtube, and send links to Speedy.

This is not speed skating!!!

 

[mikiandorocks]

Apparently the russians made the ISU an offer to organize the Worlds in the shortest time.
http://allsportinfo.ru/index.php?id=48454

This could be a good option since Figure skating is very popular in Russia at the moment.

 

[Jammers]

All the skaters need to find Speedy's e-mail address and tell him FU we won't skate at a Worlds in October. No skaters no competition.

 

[Violet Bliss]

It's getting abundantly clear that ISU's problems are not about the logistics, or lack of will from skaters and federations, and their considerations are not about skaters and fans.

It's about Dollars and Cents for ISU but they could be penny wise and pound foolish, focusing on limiting the losses on one event rather than the future of the sport, showing no thoughts for the indispensable participants and driving forces of the sport - the skaters and the fans.

 

[NMURA]

I think this is the latest news

Worlds will be held in Japan this fall, the current season ends in effect
http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/winter/news/20110316-OHT1T00309.htm

The JSF decided to make arrangements for hosting WC in this fall. The ISU president Ottavio Cinquanta sent a letter of request to the JSF, to host WC in Tokyo in October. The ISU will make the final decision by mid-May.

The JSF president Seiko Hashimoto said, "we're aiming the time between September and the first half of October, considering where it can be held." They are going to decide the location including western Japan until early April. Also WTT will be held in this fall at alternative venues. The current season of figure skating ends in effect.

 

[gmyers]

If that does happen I wonder about Finlandia and Nebelhorn and Coupe De NIce.

 

[Violet Bliss]

Unbelievable.

 

[yunafan1860]

Come on, how can they do this? they would get complaints and criticisms from the figure skating world for months.. of course it's not like 2002 scandal, but ISU's reputation would seriously fall down...
I can see several skaters withdraw for a reason or an other, including injuries, same goes for the Gran Prix series. Worlds would result in a meaningless competition, and less tickets/TV rights sold for the GP!

 

[silversprings77]

so how do they expect skaters to be ready for worlds in septembter and start the grand prix in october? how are they going to do GP selections? Not to mention, what about the skaters orginally registered now and who may not be back next season? seems unfair to skaters like Lepisto who withdrew because of injury and now could be able to skate to tell them "no, you withdrew...too bad."

 

[NMURA]

If that does happen I wonder about Finlandia and Nebelhorn and Coupe De NIce.

If they want to do it, move up the dates. Many of the worlds competitors want the final tuneups. The hosts could expect better than usual participants.

 

[gmyers]

If they want to do it, move up the dates. Many of the worlds competitors want the final tuneups. The hosts could expect better than usual participants.

Better than usual is what I thought of because it could be like a GP. Only feedback before worlds from judges.

 

[figurejennah]

You are wrong. The ISU (president) is the one resisting relocation to other countries. The best option is to hold WC in Japan as soon as the situation settled. An October WC would not be a bad idea. They can "replace" with Japan Open using the 30000 capacity arena, if possible. The next better option is an outright cancellation. The ISU (and JSF to some extent) can cover the loss by insurances.The worst scenario is a relocation to other countries. It SURELY loses money. A scaled down, frugal event doesn't provide prestige and revenues to the ISU. If the host couldn't cover the loss, the ISU have to do that. It's better to receive the insurance money.

Please, read the news once in a while. Do you even know what's going on in Japan right now? French government has ordered its citizens to evacuate from Tokyo and near Tokyo area because of the situation with Fukushima nuclear plants. And you are still thinking about world championship in Japan?

And are you sure that ISU is the one resisting relocation of the event? Then is Hersh lying?

"Q. The president of the Japanese Skating Federation said in a press conference Wednesday there would be no decision until early May. Is that correct?

A. Not precisely. We have sent them a letter yesterday (Tuesday) asking for a prompt reply, and they replied they are available to organize the event at the end of September and early October. That moment may be too late and too early for us."

Q. If it were only your decision what would you do? Cancel or October?

A. I don't know. It depends on the reaction of the Japanese federation, which I am waiting for."(http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com...tay-in-japan-sees-october-as-best-option.html)

ROFL. Wow I didn't know ISU's decision depended entirely upon the JSF's reaction!!!

 

[Poodlepal]

If I understand correctly, the worlds are supposed to be for those who qualify in this season, doing this season's programs. (Yes, I know that some can tweak or even change them, but I would imagine that PC would show up doing "Phantom" as he had in the GP, FA and TV would do Michael Jackson medleys, for example.) In October, the Grand Prix is another season, with possibly different competitors doing different programs.

It would seem to me that a worlds in October would have little correlation to the year that just passed. It would be more like an early Grand Prix event, with people poorly skating new routines on stiff skates.

I realize with international competitors it may be hard to get everyone flown in in a few short weeks, etc. but I still think it could be done. It's like it has to be in Japan or else, which I still think is odd. Clearly, Japan has done nothing to deserve this tragedy, it's an act of tectonic plates, but these things happen. Demanding that an event has to be in a certain country, even it if is pushed up way past the time it is usually held, seems weird. And I also think it's odd there is no plan B. What if there was a smaller tragedy that interfered with a championship? What if (to use a baseball analogy again), a piece of the rink fell off (as happened once in Yankee stadium?) Or there was a water main break and the ice couldn't freeze for a week? There is never a backup plan ever?

 

[yunafan1860]

And didn't they say that aftershocks would last for months?

 

[Violet Bliss]

What are skaters supposed to do in the next 7 months? How are they supposed to do their best at the beginning of a season, because that's what it will be, whatever the skaters do during the "off" time. What about retirements and surgeries already postponed? Many of the skaters will be in school, some, including front runners Chan and Flatt, will be starting university. It won't be an easy time for them to have a championship to prepare for. Will there be more injuries, inpairing the new season? What about additional financial costs to skaters to have extended training period? New or old programs?

What about the worst case scenario with a nuclear meltdown? Nobody will want to be in Japan even in October.

WTH are they thinking?!