Coronavirus and the World Championships

[4everchan]

Caroliza

St paddys day is huge in montreal. It brings way more people together than worlds. Also, most people care less about figure skating here so it is normal. Last time montreal held fswc 1932.

 

[Pouchkine]

I live in Montreal and I'm a big Figure Skating fan. There has been close to zero coverage of the event in the media. Probably 95%+ of the population have no idea that the Worlds are in Montreal this year. I'm pretty sure most of the fans in attendance will be from other countries.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Caroliza

St paddys day is huge in montreal. It brings way more people together than worlds. Also, most people care less about figure skating here so it is normal. Last time montreal held fswc 1932.

Mmmm. I didn't think it would be that big in a French speaking part of the country. You have enlightened me to something!

1932????!!!! Wow! :shocked: And I thought it was bad that this year it is 70 years since London last hosted an ISU Championship!

That is not right, that Montréal has had to wait that long for it to come back. And I just checked, and (like London) Montréal has not had any other ISU Majors in the meantime either. Given that Canada is one of the big figure skating countries, and Montréal is one of it's main cities, 88 years is far too long.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[noskates]

Well if they aren't advertising it like crazy..............what's the point.

 

[Andrea82]

Polish skaters are asked to say by tomorrow if they wish to go to Montreal. The president of the Polish Skating Federation recommends to withdraw.

http://www.pfsa.com.pl

 

[4everchan]

Mmmm. I didn't think it would be that big in a French speaking part of the country. You have enlightened me to something!

1932????!!!! Wow! :shocked: And I thought it was bad that this year it is 70 years since London last hosted an ISU Championship!

That is not right, that Montréal has had to wait that long for it to come back. And I just checked, and (like London) Montréal has not had any other ISU Majors in the meantime either. Given that Canada is one of the big figure skating countries, and Montréal is one of it's main cities, 88 years is far too long.

CaroLiza_fan

You have to look up history of irish settlers in canada. Many came to Montréal

 

[lariko]

Caroliza

St paddys day is huge in montreal. It brings way more people together than worlds. Also, most people care less about figure skating here so it is normal. Last time montreal held fswc 1932.

That’s something new I had learned today. Not about the lack of enthusiasm for figure skating, about the love for St. Patrick in Montreal...

My assembled stuffed toys will remain in my closet until a future event when the mindset doesn’t include panic, doom and gloom. I’ll just vibe non-infectously.

 

[moonvine]

I know plushies are fun and traditional, but they are also incredibly wasteful. Maybe it's time for them to go away.

Nope nope nopity nope. They’re *the* thing that separates figure skating from other sports for me. It’s my money to waste. I definitely wouldn’t be throwing any *right now* but hopefully this summer.

 

[Olibritt]

I´m completely aware that 99% will not get killed and I have never implied that. So far WHO says is about 3-4% with todays number, that is still a lot. It is a reason to try stop it, in solidarity to the one which are in risk groups. My father has diabetes, heart disease and hypertension, he is one of the people which are more likely to get severe complications by this virus if he gets infected. And he has never been very sick by the flu. The problem in Norway, we don´t have the capacity in the hospitals for intensive care, we have about 1200 intensive spots in the hospital now to deal with the virus. This is why we have to slow down the spread curve, because our health system can simply not manage a lof of people needing intensive care at the same time.

Italy has the same problem now, with not enough respirators and intensive care for the people who get very sick, and a lot of people will not get the needed treatment.

No vaccine, not knowing much about the virus, how it actually works and how fast it spread is reason to take this virus seriously.

Honestly, the virus shows that people care more about themselves and living "normal life" then help the virus spread slow down.

Same problem in Spain, here the strong measures began yesterday. Two regions (Madrid is one of them) are closing schools for 2 weeks, events with expected attendance over 1000 people are cancelled in four regions and all sports competitions will take place without public in the arena. All flights Spain/Italy are cancelled.
This is for now. At this point, everybody understands that there will be more measures and there's no point on trying to make plans, we have to wait and follow instructions.

For those of you who plan to go to worlds, well... keep an open mind, there's nothing else to do by now. Canada is far away from Spain and Italy, but not that far.

Best of luck to everyone!

 

[pesto]

I'd ban plushies without one single regret.

 

[Kitt]

Well if they aren't advertising it like crazy..............what's the point.

In November I went to Zurich to see Sergei Polunin dance. There was NOT ONE POSTER outside the venue or in the neighborhood where it occurred. Yet it was sold out! Not one seat available.

But I am surprised that Montreal is not featuring Worlds. Especially with the premier ice dancing coaches in residence!

 

[Pouchkine]

Like I said there is close to zero coverage, in the English media maybe juste a little bit but in the french media absolutely NOTHING.

 

[removof]

This is cancelled or not ?

 

[angi]

Back in October when I was visiting Montreal I saw a lot of TV adds for Worlds and several signs promoting it, it wasn't on every corner but between the adds on TV and on the street it was definitely promoted quite a bit, at least back then.

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

You have to look up history of irish settlers in canada. Many came to Montréal

It just shows how much we can learn. We have long been led to believe that most of the Irish just got off the boat in Newfoundland, and went no further.

That said, a family I know from here now lives in St. Lazare. So, I know there are at least 4 Irish people in the Montréal area!

By the way, I once heard a story that I found very interesting. Do you know where the only place outside of the island of Ireland that St. Patrick's Day is a public holiday is?

Montserrat

Suffice to say, it was colonised by Irish settlers.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[elektra blue]

if they cancel it what am i going to do during my quarantene? good thing i have netflix

 

[Olibritt]

if they cancel it what am i going to do during my quarantene? good thing i have netflix

You can ask Sara Hurtado for advice. She has just came back to Moscow after spending the weekend in Spain to find out that the authorities ordered quarantene for people in her situation :shocked: Two weelks at home, I hope that she has Netflix too… But fourth season of La casa de papel won´t be available until april 3rd

 

[Good Vibes Only]

If worlds is cancelled would the ISU try to schedule it for a later date or would they just not have it at all?

 

[Skatingcat]

I am hoping that somehow the competition will go on (if they can find a way to keep the skaters/spectators safe and healthy). Even if they have the competition with no live spectators.

Partly because the skaters have worked so hard on their programs all year, and because I feel like this is the only year where Papadakis/Cizeron aren't a complete lock in winning the gold.

Of course, it goes without saying that safety is the first priority. No medal is worth someone's life.

 

[moonvine]

I am hoping that somehow the competition will go on (if they can find a way to keep the skaters/spectators safe and healthy). Even if they have the competition with no live spectators.

Partly because the skaters have worked so hard on their programs all year, and because I feel like this is the only year where Papadakis/Cizeron aren't a complete lock in winning the gold.

Of course, it goes without saying that safety is the first priority. No medal is worth someone's life.

The athletes are in a very very low risk category. Some of the officials and spectators are going to be in higher risk categories. I’d hold it as scheduled and give spectators the choice to come or not and assume whatever level of personal risk they chose. But, I don’t run things.