- Joined
- Nov 19, 2010
Besides being supremely talented and hard working, the elite skaters we know and love are most of all young people with hearts not quite so jaded. Theirs is a close community, their rivals sometimes being thier closest friends. To most of them, fans' support and appreciation is a prime motivation greatly appreciated in turn. Japan is currently one of the most significant skating nations, providing us with both some of the best skaters of today and the most enthusiastic fans in the world. The current tragedies in Japan must have really shaken up all competitive skaters. They have to deal with all kinds of emotions, concerned about their friends, fans and disaster victims as well as the uncertainties about their training and the last and most important competition of the year. They are skaters. They need to skate. Skating is their life and what they do. I say let them skate, in Worlds and in any fundraising event. That is how they can express themselves, how they can try to lift the spirits of their loving fans many of whom are going through extremely difficult time, and how they can give themselves and contribute to the recovery effort in Japan with their hearts and talents.
I have hoped and continue to hope the World Championships 2011 will proceed with a reasonable delay so these young caring talented people can go out to do their best with added intensity and purpose. Worlds 2011 will be a very special and emotional event in figure skating history. The practical and financially focused older generation running the ISU should not deprive the real hearts and souls of the sport and their fans.
I have hoped and continue to hope the World Championships 2011 will proceed with a reasonable delay so these young caring talented people can go out to do their best with added intensity and purpose. Worlds 2011 will be a very special and emotional event in figure skating history. The practical and financially focused older generation running the ISU should not deprive the real hearts and souls of the sport and their fans.