2021-22 Russian Women's Figure Skating

[Magill]

Ah, that visa officer may happen to be a FS fan . He loves Ballet and Maya, he watched Maya's Bolero hundreds of times, a recent google search directed him to Kamila's Bolero, he watched it, then searched youtube and found her Storm, quads, 3A, ...

Maybe. That's why I said 99.9% of them and not 100%. Sorry to say but outside of Russia and Japan FS is not really that popular. So although there is always a chance, realistically speaking it is pretty slim

 

[florin]

Maybe. That's why I said 99.9% of them and not 100%. Sorry to say but outside of Russia and Japan FS is not really that popular. So although there is always a chance, realistically speaking it is pretty slim

Stop this noncens, please.

Our athletes did not submit their documents as private persons. The federation did it. The embassy staff knew that they were dealing with the part of national team of most popular sport in Russia.

I'm not interested in skiing at all. I do not know any name. But if I worked at the Russian Embassy of Norway and postponed the documents of skiers - "well, it's after the weekend" - I would perfectly understand what I was doing and what a big responsibility is associated with this decision.

Especially if the Norwegian federation called me every hour - "You don't understand we have a competition! We're going to be late! These are the best members of the national team!", "I don't know anything, I'm a dumb Russian bureaucrat - here's my matryoshka doll, here's my bottle of vodka, and here's my bear on which I'll go home for the weekend"

 

[flanker]

Stop this noncens, please.

Our athletes did not submit their documents as private persons. The federation did it. The embassy staff knew that they were dealing with the part of national team of most popular sport in Russia.

I'm not interested in skiing at all. I do not know any name. But if I worked at the Russian Embassy of Norway and postponed the documents of skiers - "well, it's after the weekend" - I would perfectly understand what I was doing and what a big responsibility is associated with this decision.

That's it. It doesn't matter whether an embassy official knows someone as a person. He is paid to do his job properly and canadian embassy emplyees obviously have failed in doing their job properly, because that delay had nothing to do with health safety, it was a simple bureaucratic sluggishness and idleness, which, of course, is accepted by some when it comes to mere skaters "nobody cares about (it provides more chances to the others after all )".

 

[Magill]

Stop this noncens, please.

Our athletes did not submit their documents as private persons. The federation did it. The embassy staff knew that they were dealing with the part of national team of most popular sport in Russia.

I'm not interested in skiing at all. I do not know any name. But if I worked at the Russian Embassy of Norway and postponed the documents of skiers - "well, it's after the weekend" - I would perfectly understand what I was doing and what a big responsibility is associated with this decision.

Stop this nonsense, please.
Of course, they knew they dealed with a skater, they knew it from her file. They did not know who she was the way you know who Barack Obama is without looking him up. But skiiers, skaters and swimmers are not visa officers' priorities. Government officials are. Big business delegations are. Nobel prize winners are. Cases of real human emergency are, and rightly so.
As for athletes and federations, it is their own responsibility to know the rules, meet the requirements and submit early enough for the paperwork to get processed. There are hundreds of athletes, artists and celebrities applying for visas all the time. They all call to explain how important their case is and why it demands extra attention and special treatment.
So now let me please bow out from this discussion as I do not think anything new can be said here.

 

[florin]

But skiiers, skaters and swimmers are not visa officers' priorities. Government officials are. Big business delegations are. Nobel prize winners are.

How could you forget eco-activists!

Priority is must given to people who are important not to YOU personally (or Canada), but for Russia. Last Thursday, our athletes were pushed back not because bunch Nobel laureates and billionaires accidentally accumulated in the line. Most likely there were ordinary russian people there. And the Canadian side consciously treated those people who are in priority in Russia as ordinary, according to its own priority criteria. Canada has the right to do so, yes. But this is not friendly attitude that Canada systematically shows towards Russia (God knows why)

So now let me please bow out from this discussion as I do not think anything new can be said here.

Now I allow bow out.

 

[Lzbee]

Stop this noncens, please.

Our athletes did not submit their documents as private persons. The federation did it. The embassy staff knew that they were dealing with the part of national team of most popular sport in Russia.

I'm not interested in skiing at all. I do not know any name. But if I worked at the Russian Embassy of Norway and postponed the documents of skiers - "well, it's after the weekend" - I would perfectly understand what I was doing and what a big responsibility is associated with this decision.

Especially if the Norwegian federation called me every hour - "You don't understand we have a competition! We're going to be late! These are the best members of the national team!", "I don't know anything, I'm a dumb Russian bureaucrat - here's my matryoshka doll, here's my bottle of vodka, and here's my bear on which I'll go home for the weekend"

Why are you assuming that Canada was extra sluggish? I mean, they very well could have been but we have no indication of when RusFed submitted the documents.

Also, I doubt a random Canadian would know that the most popular sport in Russia is figure skating. Russia is good at a lot of sports.

 

[florin]

Also, I doubt a random Canadian would know that the most popular sport in Russia is figure skating. Russia is good at a lot of sports.

We're not talking about random Canadians. We are speaking from those Canadians whose profession is cooperation with Russia. Who for many years had to understand the specifics and nuances of their work.

 

[[email protected]]

I find it interesting you say "let's not jump to conclusions" but preceed that with "delaying issuing visas and then imposing further restrictions that may forbid the designated winners to compete". That is jumping to a conclusion.

There is no indication that they were trying to keep Kamila out of this competition and quite frankly I don't think they (the minister and his team) care. In fact, I would be surprised if they have more than a vague idea who Kamila even is. Furthermore, even the RusFed said that getting Kamila's visa was easier than the others - it was Aliona, Evgeni, and Makar that they really had problems with. Also you do realize, they needed a letter to be allowed to get their visas, right? Finally, you do know that Russia has had issues with getting visas even before the pandemic even started right?

I was stating the fact that despite Russian Fed's following all necessary procedures and despite visa approvals some passports were not returned on time by Canadian consulate. This is the fact as it was confirmed by Russian officials. Otherwise, they lied and it is already a strong accusation. Why were passports not returned properly when every day matters? Did I give my explanation, "my conspiracy theory"? No, I have no idea. But I find it very strange when some poster here blame Russia on not getting their papers according to the standard procedure. And have not we had already JGPF case when because of the combination France/ISU only 3 Russian skaters will compete in Japan? It is a strong precedent that just happenned. But I don't jump to conclusions regardin Skate Canada before all the situation will have unravelled.

 

[silveruskate]

They don't have to know the skaters. What they DO know is that they're Olympic level elite athletes. And the competition is not some local competition. It's an international level skating competition and actually the biggest skating competition within the country. The Vancouver Olympics were just 11 years ago, Canadians are savvy about winter sports.

 

[nussnacker]

I don’t exactly know how embassies in different countries work, but when I needed a visa and needed it urgently, for sure the process has been accelerated by my request to the visa officer. They were very kind and understanding, and would always make sure to accommodate to ensure the person makes it on time. I did not do anything extra, just mentioned that I have to be there on X, or have a plane on X.

I am a regular person, who had no reason to be prioritized, but my documents were processed faster, for example if the plane date was closer than for other applicants, or if some event was coming up, which I had to attend.

I don’t think there’s a grand conspiracy from the Canadian side, but it does look like visa officers were uncooperative and unhelpful in this case. I don’t think they are particularly overwhelmed with visa applications from Russia, given the existing travel restrictions to Canada. If anything, they probably have more time on their hands than they normally do.
From my experience, they totally could have given a visa one day earlier when they didn’t have a holiday, knowing athletes have a flight on the weekend.

Nevertheless, it’s great that it ended well for all of them (hopefully).

 

[sclloyd]

The absolute state of this thread right now

1. They delayed Kamila because she’s the “winner” (even though she’s notoriously nervous and has lost to her own nerves before)
2. They didn’t delay anyone else’s visas because they aren’t winners (even though those were harder to obtain)
3. That they were harder to obtain for someone’s less liked skaters means Canada did absolutely nothing wrong (The RusFed should’ve used a crystal ball to submit visa requests three months before the assignments were even made)
4. Canada should make an exception for diplomats but should not make exceptions for international athletes at an event they volunteered to host (where no doubt Skate Canada and the government have been collaborating)
5. 18 year olds skating in their own arena with only each other are going to cause a pandemic (because having six additional people in the country is somehow going to have an impact on covid numbers)
6. People who’s job it is to take note of who should and shouldn’t be granted an exception are not at all aware of figure skating (I GUARANTEE you— they are. It’s their literal job)
7. That people don’t know who Kamila is means that they don’t even know what figure skating is, or it’s worldwide sporting importance (it’s one of the most popular sports in Canada)

 

[[email protected]]

The absolute state of this thread right now

1. They delayed Kamila because she’s the “winner” (even though she’s notoriously nervous and has lost to her own nerves before)

I can't remember her ever losing to any non-Russian skater, please, educate me.

 

[Jontor]

Nugumanova is out of RusNats.

After a terrible skate today at Stage 3 where she finished 11th(!) we can safely say that we won't see Nugumanova at Russian Nationals.

 

[flanker]

People will be asking who is this girl. Third at the 3rd stage of the Cup today, behind only Samodelkina and Muravieva and really really good:

 

[Amei]

Nugumanova is out of RusNats.

After a terrible skate todat at Stage 3 where she finished 11th(!) we can safely say that we won't see Nugumanova at Russian Nationals.

She didn't do terrible, she just was non-competitive with her jumps, too many doubles. Is she maybe injured?

 

[MCsAngel2]

Nugumanova is out of RusNats.

After a terrible skate today at Stage 3 where she finished 11th(!) we can safely say that we won't see Nugumanova at Russian Nationals.

Oh, what a shame!! She had my favorite SP last season. I can't believe she's gone from #6 at nationals (beating Liza T.!) to not making the competition.

 

[Decoder]

People will be asking who is this girl. Third at the 3rd stage of the Cup today, behind only Samodelkina and Muravieva and really really good:

Thanks for the link, otherwise I'd have missed it.
Yes really really good. After the first half, I thought she's going to be tired, but no, still as energetic as before, and even got a level 4 step sequence!

Just googled and found her info (hope it's correct)

Name: Veronika Yametova
Date of birth: June 30, 2007
Region: Yekaterinburg (Sverdlovsk region)
Type: Single skating
Club: Youth Sports School No. 8 “Lokomotiv” (Yekaterinburg)
Coach: Elena Levkovets, Vladimir Gnilozubov
Former clubs: ShFK “Iceberg” (Yekaterinburg)
Former coaches: Anastasia Shvets , Irina Kodushkevich

 

[Skatelife]

People will be asking who is this girl. Third at the 3rd stage of the Cup today, behind only Samodelkina and Muravieva and really really good:

Beautiful I loved her

 

[Azikin]

People will be asking who is this girl. Third at the 3rd stage of the Cup today, behind only Samodelkina and Muravieva and really really good:

So which Moscow club will grab her?

 

[alexocfp]

She didn't do terrible, she just was non-competitive with her jumps, too many doubles. Is she maybe injured?

Too much social media, modeling, fashion shows, promoting and cooking is the likelier reason. Haha