Japan Open 2024 Cancelled

[Mathman]

I was not talking about fans... I thought it was clear but apparently it was not.

Oh, OK. I guess I didn't read all the way to the end of your post before answering. My bad.

However, I can see where national and international sports regulatory bodies don't feel that it is their job to fête retiring superstars. Let the fans do that. I can't really blame entities like the ISU and the Japanese Skating Federation for keeping their eyes forward as much as possible.

I have to demur here (but with the understanding that hindsight is a very very useless gift). Firstly, when and in the years since I joined the sport there were more than a few people who kept going on and on that...

Meh, screw 'em. People will go on and on.

Anyway, I think that there was a little Shomo Uno bump (two world championships). Maybe Yuma Kagiyama will be able to navigate his blend of technique and artistry through crowded competitive waters. Plus, Kaori is not exactly chopped liver. And Japan is making headway in pairs and dance. On we go. None of this takes anything away from Hanyu's legacy.

 

[TallyT]

Plus, Kaori is not exactly chopped liver.

Kaori is wonderful and should have more fan love than she does. I think we definitely agree on that.

 

[Wynter]

It isn't very respectful to think that fans from a specific country will support a skater only because of his/her looks. The argument sounds racist to me.

(Can't quote the post since the poster blocked Hanyu fans. Interesting.)

 

[TallyT]

None of this takes anything away from Hanyu's legacy.

ps - and given the post I just put up about the AIPS vote, I think I have to give you for being right.

Back to Japan Open and other not so high profile competitions both official and not... the lack of access for us to watch Cranberry Cup etc is worrying too. But being the Pollyanna I am, I look at some of the juniors coming up and think "there may not be a Yuzu, but there are stars there!!!" (Minsol is my pick) so hope the ISU and feds can get their acts together in time to showcase them when the time comes.

 

[Mathman]

(Can't quote the post since the poster blocked Hanyu fans...

The poster deleted his post. Golden Skate posters cannot block other GSers from reading and responding to their posts.

 

[Wynter]

The poster deleted his post. Golden Skate posters cannot block other GSers from reading and responding to their posts.

Thank you for the clarifying, Mathman. So they deleted their post right before I logged in.

I am glad they at least have the conscience to do so.

 

[Magill]

However, I can see where national and international sports regulatory bodies don't feel that it is their job to fête retiring superstars. Let the fans do that. I can't really blame entities like the ISU and the Japanese Skating Federation for keeping their eyes forward as much as possible.

It surely is their job to care for attendance as it affects the sport's finances now and in the future. If ATP, the ISU equivalent in tennis, big and rich as it is, does care to cater for fans of their retiring greats, maybe it is a policy that brings some effects and is worth consideration in the long run also by those who are way poorer and blessed by way fewer stars. Surely, alienating a huge fanbase was not clever, it never is. "Keeping your eyes forward as much as possible" would actually involve avoiding such an outcome. Anyway, too late for that as the milk has spilled, as they say. We'll see what happens next.

 

[Skating91]

Still, if a niche sport is blessed with a huge and widely loved global superstar and they seem to be insulted by their stardom rather than celebrating it, you might come to believe they do not really deserve neither this one, nor another one, do they? Why give them your money and fill their arenas when it just makes them so unhappy?
Look at the ATP. One of the most popular and richest sports on the planet. Look how they celebrate the stardom of their stars. How they celebrate them, when they compete and after they have retired. How they make sure they keep both them and their fans happy and involved.
How many official farewells did Rafa Nadal have this year so far? In each and every court he visited. And he did not even officially announce he would retire yet! How did Paris celebrate him at the Olympics opening ceremony? By inviting him to carry the torch even though he was not French. How was Federer celebrated at Wimbledon anniversary even though he did no longer compete? Huge.
Any farewell benefit for Yuzu from ISU or JSF? None.
To me, it says more than I would like to know.

Kaori won three world championships in a row making her the best ISU skater in six decades, but barely any kind of celebration or acknowledgement of this incredible achievement. I think if it were a western European, American, Canadian, etc winning three in a row the reaction would be different.

 

[Rebecca Moose]

Kaori won three world championships in a row making her the best ISU skater in six decades, but barely any kind of celebration or acknowledgement of this incredible achievement. I think if it were a western European, American, Canadian, etc winning three in a row the reaction would be different.

An outstanding achievement, to be certain, but the programs have been forgettable and far beneath her ability. Bring back Benoit.

 

[Magill]

Kaori won three world championships in a row making her the best ISU skater in six decades, but barely any kind of celebration or acknowledgement of this incredible achievement. I think if it were a western European, American, Canadian, etc winning three in a row the reaction would be different.

Sorry, I love Kaori and appreciate her three-gold fest as a huge achievement but no way it makes her the best skater, or even the most decorated skater, or even the most decorated female skater, in the last six decades. It is simply factually wrong. Even if we talk only about women, this is not the biggest achievement in modern skating history. But that's not the best place to discuss it, there were a lot of these discussions in the GOAT thread where they belong

 

[Mathman]

Sorry, I love Kaori and appreciate her three-gold fest as a huge achievement...

It really is, when you think about it. Michelle Kwan didn't do it. Katarina Witt didn't do it.

It is hard to win three consecutive world championships. It's hard to win two. It's hard to win one.