I honestly can't imagine not responding to repeated emails from your biggest donor. Like, what organization does that?! Especially when they tell you they're about to walk out the door?
If they dont find another sponsor soon, maybe the ISU will need to find a new spot for the Grand Prix.
Maybe their new president can put in a good word. we have excellent speed skating facilities in Holland, I am sure they could do something for figure skating, too.
To chime in on this part. For what it is worth Gracie Gold did say the skaters were awarded their prize money for their SP placements at TEB last year. So while those funds were not returned, they also were not kept by the French association.
And really a good chunk of the funds like were spent and gone by the time of the attack - like meals and transport and hotels, those were still an expense even if the events was cancelled.
I am not sure what funds there really were available to "cancel" other than the exhibition bonuses...and possible some other expenses directly tied to the exhibition.
That is not to say there were still not disrespectful jerks (the French association)... but this part did kinda stand out to me as a bit... well odd.
there is nothing like an exhíbition Bonus. Skaters are REQUIRED to skate, they don´t get paid for this!
Uhh, yes they do. Read page 8: http://static.isu.org/media/1003/gpfra-2015_-announcement.pdf
I honestly can't imagine not responding to repeated emails from your biggest donor. Like, what organization does that?! Especially when they tell you they're about to walk out the door?
I have to wonder if the US skaters will be Bombarded With questions about our new President. I sure hope Gracie skates well here as I could use a little pick me up. Coffee isn't doing the trick this morning.
A happy Trophy Lalique moment for Me....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjseOlczARQ
The red fence! Not the typical blue fence of Trophée Eric Bompard. I hope TdF retains the blue fence because I'm gonna really miss it if they don't.
By the way, mmrice, you remind me as long as one devotee like you exists, the skater never can be forgotten. The Swan Lake program and dress of Maria Butyrskaya are strikingly beautiful.
That interview just added another couple of cents to the garbage bin of their shenanigans. So much disrespect to the major sponsor. I just recalled how they WD Brian from GP events because he decided to not take part in French Masters (is that the right name?), then what amount of money they asked to let Bruno Massot skate with Alyona Savchenko. Seriously, those guys have no shame.
I wonder why Eric Bompard did not sue French federation for not returning at least part of funds after competition cancellation last year? It was a force majeure, yes, but still- half of competition was not held, where's the money? Ugh...:angry2:
An exhibition fee of US$200 per singles skater and US$300 per pairs or dance team is more in the order of an honorarium than a fee for services. Most of these skaters ask for larger fees just to come as special guests to club events.
They surely were spent but I guess sponsor needed the documents with detalization for their own purposes (Finance Dept). They may have some tax issues because of that.It's certainly possible that the funds had been spent and we're not refunded to the federation. That being said, nothing excuses ignoring a major sponsor like that. The foundation I work for always has clauses in its agreements with sponsors to handle any outcome and we would have bent over backwards to make them happy. It's inexcusable to ignore any sponsor, much less a title sponsor. Shame on them.
Uhh, yes they do. Read page 8: http://static.isu.org/media/1003/gpfra-2015_-announcement.pdf