Coronavirus and the World Championships

[Sugar Coated]

I’m wondering whether skaters could skate at their home rink and livestream the performance? Judges wouldn’t be in person of course but camera angles could be uniform.

 

[Sugar Coated]

Correct. Switzerland has ordered events bigger than 1000 people canceled. The Dr. in WA state who is the head of emergency medical responses is considering banning all sporting events, although some places in Europe are just playing the soccer matches without the fans. The Problem for Canada is, even canceling the attendee fans, do you really want skaters from all over the world coming in? From China? Korea? Japan? Italy? People from those countries enter Canada every day! WA state where ABC news says the virus has been quietly passed around for 6 weeks? Who was afraid of the state of WA 3 weeks ago?
I think unless there is a major change in progression speed, the worlds will go on. The Virus is in what? 57 countries now? Unless there is a mutation, the SARS-CoV-2 virus is probably about as deadly as the flu at this time as no one has immunity except for a handful of people , again, at this time.
Let the worlds go ahead. The barn door has been left open...you may close it now if you like, but this thing is gonna spread no matter what you do, unless the world goes on full quarenteen . Lets all hope the warm moist air takes care of it for this year in a few months as it takes care of the current flu, a vaccine is found, and China keeps its word about finally banning live bush meat in open air markets.
(REmember, the Spanish flu of 1918 spread by boat around the world to the far corners of the earth. The airplane has spread SARS-CoV-2 much faster)

I agree that the spread is inevitable but the timeline is important. If it’s possible to delay massive spread by several weeks that gives more time to reach warmer weather (if that helps) but more importantly time to gain information about treatments and development of a vaccine.

 

[Mathman]

????? I would respectfully suggest political comments like "Dr. Pence" be dispensed with.

That is the heart of my concern. That decisions are being made, not by doctors and scientists, but by politicians.

Furthermore, for the most part politicians have little respect for expertise, and in fact are outright hostile to science -- "windmills cause cancer" -- and instead have their eye on their own political fortunes rather than on doing the right thing for the country.

 

[ruga]

If there's a widespread epidemic in Montreal, the championship could be held with no spectators. Skaters from high risk countries already came or are planning to do so and everyday traveling is so intensive that 200 or so people do not pose a big risk.

If the situation is especially bad (a bunch of cancelled flights, forbidden entries), I believe it should be possible to postpone the event to late April - early June when the weather gets hotter and more humid and when the trials for most existing drugs are over.

 

[jenaj]

That is the heart of my concern. That decisions are being made, not by doctors and scientists, but by politicians.

Furthermore, for the most part politicians have little respect for expertise, and in fact are outright hostile to science -- "windmills cause cancer" -- and instead have their eye on their own political fortunes rather than on doing the right thing for the country.

But in this case, their political fortunes coincide with containing the disease. But back to Worlds. I will be very disappointed if it is cancelled. I wonder what the breakdown is of the countries of spectators. I would think there is minimal risk of the virus among people from the US or Canada and I think the audience will largely be made up of people from those two countries. Japan and Korea are different stories. Likewise Italy, but I doubt if there will be many spectators from Italy.

 

[4everchan]

If there's a widespread epidemic in Montreal, the championship could be held with no spectators. Skaters from high risk countries already came or are planning to do so and everyday traveling is so intensive that 200 or so people do not pose a big risk.

If the situation is especially bad (a bunch of cancelled flights, forbidden entries), I believe it should be possible to postpone the event to late April - early June when the weather gets hotter and more humid and when the trials for most existing drugs are over.

I cannot see how an epidemic would reach montreal in the next few days.... there is extensive testing and only 2 cases in the entire province turned out to be positive, and those two people acted responsibly using masks etc...

And to your suggestion about putting the event a few weeks later when it's warmer : well, from what i have read, covid19 is not resistant to warm temperature but it requires 26 Celsius to kill it... april, even may... and even early june doesn't bring such high temperature normally.

worlds will happen as planned or will simply be canceled or postpone until september/october.

please, read the proper information by WHO ... before commenting... Montreal is not touched by the virus as of now.

 

[CoyoteChris]

The US is in a much worse state than Canada is IMO

Its hard to say at this point, in a per capita sense. Canada might only be a month behind the US. Remember the virus was/is established in WA St. 6 weeks ago and no one knew...once it gets into a nursing home, the care givers get it, and the patients' visiting family gets it, and spreads it. Without testing, it looks just like the flu....

 

[CoyoteChris]

I cannot see who an epidemic would reach montreal in the next few days.... there is extensive testing and only 2 cases in the entire province turned out to be positive, and those two people acted responsibly using masks etc...

And to your suggestion about putting the event a few weeks later when it's warmer : well, from what i have read, covid19 is not resistant to warm temperature but it requires 26 Celsius to kill it... april, even may... and even early june doesn't bring such high temperature normally.

worlds will happen as planned or will simply be canceled or postpone until september/october.

please, read the proper information by WHO ... before commenting... Montreal is not touched by the virus as of now.

Glad to see Montreal is on top of this....
https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/quebec-...ry-mounts-over-international-spread-1.4828998

 

[SkatersWaltz]

The event was canceled due to the fact the "authorities of the city of Seoul ordered the closing of the Mokdong Ice Rink and the cancellation of all planned competitions." ISU held their competitions despite the SARS outbreak 17 years ago, I don't think they will cancel Worlds.

When the Four Continents championships ended there were 24 cases of Coronavirus in South Korea. There are now 4,335 cases in South Korea. There are currently 24 cases in Canada so anything can happen.

 

[ruga]

I cannot see who an epidemic would reach montreal in the next few days.... there is extensive testing and only 2 cases in the entire province turned out to be positive, and those two people acted responsibly using masks etc...

And to your suggestion about putting the event a few weeks later when it's warmer : well, from what i have read, covid19 is not resistant to warm temperature but it requires 26 Celsius to kill it... april, even may... and even early june doesn't bring such high temperature normally.

worlds will happen as planned or will simply be canceled or postpone until september/october.

please, read the proper information by WHO ... before commenting... Montreal is not touched by the virus as of now.

Anything can happen. Canada has high healthcare standards but one irresponsible 'super spreader' can change situation very quickly. See: Daegu, South Korea. Hopefully now everyone has learned from past and current examples and such situation doesn't repeat in Montreal or anywhere else.

So far the only thing that suggests decreased transmission in higher temperatures is very few cases and community outbreaks found in countries such as India or Vietnam and patterns with other coronaviruses and respiratory ilnesses.

 

[CoyoteChris]

That is the heart of my concern. That decisions are being made, not by doctors and scientists, but by politicians.

Furthermore, for the most part politicians have little respect for expertise, and in fact are outright hostile to science -- "windmills cause cancer" -- and instead have their eye on their own political fortunes rather than on doing the right thing for the country.

Mathman, we all here in the US (or at least those of us who actually vote) have political concerns about how ever facet of our lives are being handled by the Govt politicians for decades. But as the moderators have made very clear, politics is not what this forum is about. Making fun of Pence as an admistrator with 5 hopefully qualified expert docs on his board is just politics. Sure , many of us dont agree with the current crop of DC politicians, but the people have spoken. What I have heard so far is , "Dont panic, but take steps to prepare. " The alphabet soup of agencies involved with the Federal Response do need to be coordinated and on the same page. Arguing about who is best to put in charge or Arguing about the fact that US presidents/congresses for decades have virtually ignored national preparedness for Volcanos, earthquakes, Nor'easters, hurricanes, wild fires, tornados, Tsunamis, younameit, and yes, epidemics is politically interesting and may be put on a separate forum or banned at the discretion of the forum owners/operators. If, on the other hand, we CAN talk politics about the virus, I would like to say a few words about Chuck S. and HIS remarks.....

 

[CoyoteChris]

But in this case, their political fortunes coincide with containing the disease. But back to Worlds. I will be very disappointed if it is cancelled. I wonder what the breakdown is of the countries of spectators. I would think there is minimal risk of the virus among people from the US or Canada and I think the audience will largely be made up of people from those two countries. Japan and Korea are different stories. Likewise Italy, but I doubt if there will be many spectators from Italy.

Well said and a good point. The Japanese, unlike Americans, care about community. They typically wear the correct mask to protect others if they are not feeling well. The virus likes cool dry air, as can be found in a skating arena, so that's important. So far I have had no luck offering surgical masks to Americans who admit to having even colds. Perhaps with the ISU statement, the Montreal arena folk will "encourage" unwell Americans to were masks.
(BTW, have good thoughts for the 1/4 of the Kirkland WA Fire Dept now quarinteened for fear of the virus. I support my public first responders)

 

[brightphoton]

Idea: video conference the World championships.

1. All the judges join conference call
2. Have each skater Skype, webcam, Facetime, video phone, etc. themselves skating their program at the home rink, live
3, Email results

ta da World Championships AND no one gets infected with deadly new disease

 

[brightphoton]

However, my real opinion is, cancel the whole darn thing. It's too dangerous, especially given the average age of the figure skating spectator

 

[Skater Boy]

My fear is that some skaters may not be allowed into Canada and thus compete. Fortunately a lot of skaters from Asia traini n the US or Canada including Rika and Yuzuru, Shoma et al. I do agree a world championship held with disregard for this virus would be silly. They shouldn't panic but take the proper precautions. Like Yan - if he has the virus it is understandable why he shouuldn't compete for many reasons or travel as much as many of us like his skating.

I remember reading recently at random (googling lol) about the plane crash that destroyed the American team in the 60's and they cancelled that world championships. I assume it was out of respect but I am not sure they would have done it for a lesser skating country or lesser powerful nation - fortunately such tragedies are rare.

 

[4everchan]

My fear is that some skaters may not be allowed into Canada and thus compete. Fortunately a lot of skaters from Asia traini n the US or Canada including Rika and Yuzuru, Shoma et al. I do agree a world championship held with disregard for this virus would be silly. They shouldn't panic but take the proper precautions. Like Yan - if he has the virus it is understandable why he shouuldn't compete for many reasons or travel as much as many of us like his skating.

I remember reading recently at random (googling lol) about the plane crash that destroyed the American team in the 60's and they cancelled that world championships. I assume it was out of respect but I am not sure they would have done it for a lesser skating country or lesser powerful nation - fortunately such tragedies are rare.

can you stop spreading rumours? or if indeed Han Yan is sick, please provide a source... i am starting to have enough with all the rumours and gossiping.

 

[el henry]

I’m the age of the average figure skating spectator and if I had tickets and time, I’d be in the arena all day, every day.

Have fun everyone who is going

 

[ruga]

Idea: video conference the World championships.

1. All the judges join conference call
2. Have each skater Skype, webcam, Facetime, video phone, etc. themselves skating their program at the home rink, live
3, Email results

ta da World Championships AND no one gets infected with deadly new disease

OK but it isn't a terrible idea really. That way we can:
- reduce home advantage
- no bad ice/lost luggage/hot water/jet lag issues
- a bunch of judges could join in and produce objective result as ISU won't have to pay for their hotels anymore
- increased prize money
- everyone sees skating the same: no 'it looks better/worse live' comments
- and obviously protection from all local diseases

 

[Mrs. P]

ISU has posted a statement

https://www.isu.org/isu-news/news/1...us-isu-events-season-2019-20?templateParam=15

 

[Edwin]

I think ISU should also consider a ban on throwing anything on the ice and handing over any gifts to skaters and trainers, collecting autographs etc.

It is perhaps best to separate competitors and their trainers from ISU accredited staff and isolate both from the audience as adequately as possible.

Then there is mixed zone and press room etiquette.

We'll find out when Worlds come closer what measures will be taken to guarantee a safe and healthy experience for everybody.