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

[Sylvia]

Based on what I've been reading online this morning, Finland may not be submitting a bid after all -- we'll have to wait and see.

With Vladimir Putin directly involved now, I think Russia has frontrunner status. CNN International: Russia offers to host skating championship instead of Japan

"Our Japanese friends can't host the world figure-skating championship, clearly, because of the tragedy that they've suffered," Putin said Tuesday. "But we could support our Japanese colleagues as well as the International Skating Union by proposing to host this championship here, if, of course, the union would be interested."

The prime minister spoke at his country residence outside Moscow during a televised meeting with Russian Sports and Tourism Minister Vitaly Mutko.

"This event wouldn't be expensive, and we could easily handle all the expenses related to it," Putin said.

"The more so, that there are millions of figure skating fans [in Russia]," he said. "Our people would be happy to see this wonderful show ... We don't insist on anything, but if the International Union needs a helping hand, we would extend it with pleasure."

Reuters newswire article: Moscow bids to host world championships

Moscow has proposed the 14,000-seat Hodynka arena [ETA: also transliterated 'Khodynka' and now renamed Megasport Arena], built in 2007 to host that year's ice hockey world championship, as the venue. The Russian capital last hosted the world figure skating championships in 2005 at the old Luzhniki ice palace.

 

[let`s talk]

Does that mean ISU wouldn't be able to turn down Plushenko's reinstatement request among others?

NO!!! Now they have to ban him for life! Because if they restore his eligibility, there will be enough losers who say that it could happen only because Moscow helped ISU with WC at the toughest moment! Not because Plush's reinstatement was a done deal before those plates made their first move in the Ring of Fire.

 

[seniorita]

There are two kinds of people in New York, "the quick and the dead."

I like being a traveler rather than tourist myself too. But I think in Ny i ll be the traditional annoying tourist climpin every skyscraper I ll see, and the way you put it seems i have to try to be a tourist running not to die? :O
--
Hodynka arena is the Megastar arena or another one?too bad Filland is not bidding, the countries didnt have much time it seems.

 

[let`s talk]

How did Mr. Cinquanta get the nickname "Speedy"? I'm a recent joiner here, so I'm not up on the history. Thanks.

He used to be a speed skater.

 

[wallylutz]

Hodynka arena is the Megastar arena or another one?too bad Filland is not bidding, the countries didnt have much time it seems.

Megastar = Hodynka = Khodynka It's the same venue, the latter is an old name of the place according to Phil Hersh.

 

[yunafan1860]

the final flight:

US (Colorado Springs, Lake Placid), Russia (Moscow) Canada (Vancouver), Finland (Turku), Croatia (Zagreb) and Austria (Graz).

Rooting for Austria

 

[ivy]

Isn't there a difference in the size rink expected for hockey and figure skating? I seem to remember complaints during a previous championships held in a hockey venue that the ice was too small. At this point any ice is great, but I think the focus should be on what's best for the skaters.

Overall I'm thrilled will have a WC this spring and kudos to any federation that can step up and make it happen. Disappointed it won't be in Aisa

 

[ing]

There's a difference in the size of hockey rinks between Europe(larger) and North America(smaller).

 

[wallylutz]

Isn't there a difference in the size rink expected for hockey and figure skating? I seem to remember complaints during a previous championships held in a hockey venue that the ice was too small. At this point any ice is great, but I think the focus should be on what's best for the skaters.

Some venues, especially the newer and larger ones, are the so called multi-sport arena, which means the size can be adapted and changed based on the needs of the event. Staples Center in Los Angeles, site of the 2009 Worlds is one of them, which is also home to the LA Lakers, an NBA team - basketball. If a venue can sit 14,000+ people and built in 2006/07, it would be a shock if the venue isn't a convertible one.

Here is a video clip of Joubert's FS at the 2008 CoR, which was hosted at the Megasport Arena in Moscow. You can see the rink size is most definitely Olympic size:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scpnWW77b7E

 

[Serious Business]

With Vladimir Putin directly involved now, I think Russia has frontrunner status. CNN International: Russia offers to host skating championship instead of Japan

Reuters newswire article: Moscow bids to host world championships

Thanks for the links, Sylvia! Wow, so Putin is involved! If Russia gets the bid then they absolutely can and will stage a wonderful World Championships, I predict. Having the world's most powerful autocrat's backing gets ish done.

 

[Dodhiyel]

I take it that you mean that six countries have offered to host Worlds on such short notice; I think that is magnificent! It's the way I think the figure skating world should operate. This Worlds is about a wonderful refusal to give up, no matter how many legal and financial adjustments are necessary, no matter how many people will be able to arrange to be part of the live audience on time. The competition will go on, and this Worlds will never be forgotten.

 

[Olympia]

I completely agree, Dodhiyel. I posted on another thread that I thought this Worlds would be an unusually emotional experience for all involved, even those of us watching from a distance, because of how profoundly it represents overcoming challenges. Talk about never giving up, especially in the case of the Japanese skaters. I think that even if only a few fans can make it to the new venue, and the skaters are in a largely empty arena, they'll be strongly conscious of the thousands of fans sitting at their TV sets or computers, present at the competition in all but body.

I hope there is some sort of opening ceremony in which local officials read greetings or good wishes from the fans worldwide, so that skaters know how many people are thinking of them and rooting for them--and, by extension, thinking of the suffering people still caught in the danger zones in Japan.

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I take it that you mean that six countries have offered to host Worlds on such short notice; I think that is magnificent! It's the way I think the figure skating world should operate. This Worlds is about a wonderful refusal to give up, no matter how many legal and financial adjustments are necessary, no matter how many people will be able to arrange to be part of the live audience on time. The competition will go on, and this Worlds will never be forgotten.

Dodhiyel - I think all of us would like to see the Worlds as soon as possible. But of those six country offers, are they really ready to handle the logistics? Are they willing to Bid for them? Could some of the offers with no Bids be selected? A Bid means they come up to the ISU standards for hosting a Worlds.

If however, one would be ok for a scaled down Worlds, would that not come with more complaints by officials, if not fans?

The Olympic Committee actually inspects the grounds of proposed sites before making a decision.

 

[mskater93]

These are actual bids that have gone to the ISU, Joe, what makes you think they aren't? I've seen all the info on the "what countries bid" with links, so they have to be real bids.

 

[Mathman]

Of the five points that the ISU asked prospective bidders to respond to, the fifth seems to be the killer.

5. A TV production for the entire Event and availability of the signal free of charge to the ISU and its TV right holders.

According to the official announcements (as oppsed to whatever has been going on behind the scenes), this solicitation was sent out only on Monday, March 21, requiring a response be Tuesday, March 22.

In other words, if you want worlds, you have to put a television deal together in two days. :yes:

 

[dorispulaski]

Hard to do-but I wonder whether US sports could do it. US Sports has broadcast rights for the US for Worlds.

I will bet Canadian TV could put it together quickly too.

Also, every competition now a days has a camera feed for the judges and tech committee. So the deal is getting a satellite setup, not the cameras/camera people so much.

And the Russians have been routinely video streaming everything. I'm sure they can do it.

I was amazed at the quality of streaming from Estonia for Europeans last year.

Finlandia, not so much. And Zagreb?? more not so much. JGP's there have never yielded great vids.

 

[Violet Bliss]

In other words, if you want worlds, you have to put a television deal together in two days. :yes:

That's not how I read this. It seems to me that the bidder has to provide TV video feeds but it's the ISU that would sell the broadcast rights to various networks. Among them at least Russia and Canada have national TV ready for the production.

As for the other points, Russia and Canada also qualify. US offers two locations, neither of which provides minimum seats. Not sure about the others.

I would be happy with either Russia or Canada getting Worlds. Well, actually just about anybody staging it will make me very glad. But these two seem to be best prospects except for Canada hosting 2013 Worlds being possibly a hindrance.

 

[janetfan]

That's not how I read this. It seems to me that the bidder has to provide TV video feeds but it's the ISU that would sell the broadcast rights to various networks. .

That sounds right to me. ISU owns Worlds and they sell the broadcast rights.

 

[Mathman]

Does anyone know if the ISU ended up receiving any money for television rights for the 2009 Worlds in Los Angeles? As I recall, negotiations were going on up to the last minute, with Cinquanta eventually announcing in frustration that for the good of figure skating he would be willing to let the event go on for free.

There was also a big problem with last year's Skate America, where the USFSA was not able to squeeze any money out of network TV, either for itself or the ISU. Cinquanta threatened to withhold the money that the ISU usually gives to the organizers of Grand Prix events, if the ISU couldn't get a piece of the television pie. But I think he relented when it developed that there wasn't any pie to get a piece of.

This will probably count against any U.S. bid.

 

[colleen o'neill]

Ouch. 2009 was during one of my out-of -touch times...I had no idea.