2020 World Championships Cancelled

[NaVi]

I think they're just saying this to placate the crazy fans (some in this thread) who are going nuts about their precious figure skating competition being cancelled because some random 5000 people on the other side of the globe are dead. How inconsiderate of those sick people!

My perspective is that the ISU(Skate Canada) did little to assuage the risks by and to the audience before it was cancelled by the local health authorities... and had no contingency plans in case that happened to try to put the event on in a reduced capacity. They seemed to have no plans at all with regards to reducing contact between people at the event. In fact, they were encouraging it with the red carpet event and the meet and greet autograph section.

The thing I'm most unhappy about is the missed opportunities for skaters to earn a world medal.... which is the most important thing IMO and not trying to sell tickets.

 

[TallyT]

I can understand why they've done it - and yes, I do think it was the right decision - but can we give some leeway for venting to people who have built a great personal deal on going to this, spent a lot of time and money and expectation, don't as yet know how much they will lose, and have been on a roller coaster of willtheywon'tthey for several weeks now? It's only been a couple of hours since the announcement and emotions are still raw (I know some yuzu fans for whom this was their one and possibly only chance to see him, I wouldn't blame them for spending the morningrather teary...)

On the other hand, people in affected countries like Italy are living a ghastly nightmare and are also entitled to emotional overload.

So until the news sinks in and emotions calm, can everyone - if we see someone on either side vent, no matter how much we may not like it - just let them be? Just for a while?

 

[hippomoomin]

Nooo~~~

I agree that the organizer could have done something to prevent a total cancellation, especially a competition without live audience. Feeling sad for all the competitors who worked so hard the entire season to earn a spot.

 

[Roo87]

The tickets will be, everything else won’t.

As for the rest, go ahead and pass the judgment.

My hotel was refundable, and I got credit from the airline. I don't stand to lose any money (assuming they give full refunds on event tickets). I'm devastated, but not shocked.

 

[lariko]

My hotel was refundable, and I got credit from the airline. I don't stand to lose any money (assuming they give full refunds on event tickets). I'm devastated, but not shocked.

That would be my day off tomorrow, trying to see what if anything can be salvaged. So far I just cancelled the days off set aside for the trip.

WestJet was the only airline I saw saying they suspended their cancellation policy b/c of the outbreak, and I was flying with AC.

Evenco said the refunds will be processed automatically, unless it was bought in person, so I assume it is a full refund, just reversal of charges.

 

[icybear]

Right thing to do but so devastating for the skaters and fans.

 

[leoncorazon]

Couldn’t the event still be rescheduled in some capacity later this year ?

 

[cl2]

Nooo~~~

I agree that the organizer could have done something to prevent a total cancellation, especially a competition without live audience. Feeling sad for all the competitors who worked so hard the entire season to earn a spot.

I would imagine financial considerations will be part of it. If they run the competition without audience, they will still have to pay for the arena, but they will have to refund ticket fees, so won't get any revenue from ticket sales. Perhaps by cancelling the event altogether, they get some kind of financial relief from not hiring the arena. Maybe. Just my speculation.

 

[Xena45]

Evenco said the refunds will be processed automatically, unless it was bought in person, so I assume it is a full refund, just reversal of charges.

Where did you see that? Was there any kind of timeline given? The initial articles just said "in due course."

 

[lariko]

Couldn’t the event still be rescheduled in some capacity later this year ?

Skate Canada said they are looking into options with Bell, but it will not be until October 2020.

 

[TallyT]

Skate Canada said they are looking into options with Bell, but it will not be until October 2020.

And that sounded more like a "possibly" wishful thinking to me... all mixed up as it would be with the GP series, the top skaters being in that...

 

[lariko]

Where did you see that? Was there any kind of timeline given? The initial articles just said "in due course."

The string of tweets from them. It says 10 business days, depending on the financial institution.

https://mobile.twitter.com/evenko/status/1237841767308787712

 

[lariko]

And that sounded more like a "possibly" wishful thinking to me... all mixed up as it would be with the GP series, the top skaters being in that...

I am not sure. I believed them on Friday, I believed the Quebec Health Minister yesterday.

 

[NaVi]

Skate Canada said they are looking into options with Bell, but it will not be until October 2020.

Yeah, I saw that tweet.

Skate Canada is leaving the door slightly open to host the world championships in the fall. They have taken a very preliminary look at the Bell Centre schedule.


I found it disconcerting... as if Bell would be the only option and if it wasn't financially viable at Bell then it would be a no go.

I think by next fall the virus will mostly controlled through early testing and quarantine measures. But I can't see them allowing large capacity crowds to congregate until there's a vaccine which won't come till next year. An arena as big as Bell is not needed.

I think the whole early fall season of figure skating should be cancelled and replace it with the 2020 World Championships. If they want to do a GPF too, just take the top 6 at Worlds as the qualifier for that season. To give time for a vaccine, I'd push Europeans and 4CC back to early March and the 2021 World Championships to mid April.

 

[*~RussianBleux~*]

my quarantine just got sadder, but it's the right desicion even though i was looking forward this event and especially the live chat

How are you getting food?

 

[hanyuufan5]

The thing I'm most unhappy about is the missed opportunities for skaters to earn a world medal.... which is the most important thing IMO and not trying to sell tickets.

This so much, especially given how many skaters train in Canada and the US. I wish they could have held it without spectators, made some kind of quarantine procedure for the skaters and staff, and let the ones who want to bother following it do so.

 

[cheerknithanson]

Skate Canada said they are looking into options with Bell, but it will not be until October 2020.

Why not go with the Arena where the Ottawa Senators play in? They're probably not going to make the playoffs. So their season would be done in early April.

 

[rain]

This so much, especially given how many skaters train in Canada and the US. I wish they could have held it without spectators, made some kind of quarantine procedure for the skaters and staff, and let the ones who want to bother following it do so.

It breaks my heart when I think of the skaters who had momentum this year and had a shot at the podium this season.

And selfishly, I've been looking forward to this for weeks (on television, didn't have tickets).

But I can certainly understand the logic behind the cancellation. Having thousands of people flying in, many from hot zone countries, to pack them all into an arena was a risk. Right now Canada does not have a lot of cases, and I'm sure officials are doing everything they can to keep it that way.

But I am so sad not to be able to see Gilles/Poirier's sublime FD in front a home crowd, ditto for MT/M. I wish I could have seen Mariah Bell's LP one more time this season, and I think the Canadian men had a good shot at earning back another spot. I was dying to see Junhwan Cha's LP again. Smart and Diaz's FD (one of my favourites)....and do many more. Oh well, I feel a Youtube binge coming on.

 

[CoyoteChris]

Did I just see on the telly that Trump has suspended all travel from Europe to the US except the UK?

 

[jenaj]

I'm sorry you're underestimating the whole situation.

Two weeks ago I would have agreed with you, but not now. Not after my entire country has been locked down, not after having to queue outside the supermarket as in war, infections and deaths continue to increase, doctors are forced to work for endless days, the health system is collapsing and in a few days the doctors will probably have to choose between those who can survive and those who can't… And believe it or not the Italian Health System is one of the best in the world and, above all, it's FREE, this means that everyone has access to medical care and you don't have to spend large sums every year. When the virus will spread to countries like the United States that do not have public health care I'm afraid it will be a massacre.

Cancelling Worlds was the right decision to help stop this pandemic.

The overwhelming majority of Americans have private health insurance or Medicare or Medicaid, so I don’t think it will be a “massacre.”