World Championships 2011 - Pre-competition thread

Thanks linglang and maowataiyo! Even though you got most of it covered, there is a full version on kumaneko site:
http://kumaneko037.blog103.fc2.com/

Mao sounds so relaxed and happy. I somehow even feel not so nervous anymore - she sounds like she is doing great and I get a feeling that she will continue to improve regardless of the result of the particular competition.

I hope the Japanese earthquake/tsunami didn't severely affect Mao, Taka, or any of the other Japanese skaters, and I hope it doesn't severely impact the planning of the world championships.

I hope it too but it doesn't look good on TV

I hope everyone on this forum and skaters who live in and near the affected areas is fine. TV news just aired Sendai port and airport being hit by tsunami ... it's home town of Japanese figure skaters, Shizuka and Yuzuru ... I just hope people made it to safe place. It's really sad and heartbreaking ...

I think Shizuka has a home in Tokyo, but not sure about this!

I really hope they wont cancel the Worlds now

Haidogirl wrote:

I think Shizuka has a home in Tokyo, but not sure about this!

I really hope they wont cancel the Worlds now

Tokyo was pretty far off from the epicenter(s), so I'm sure things will be OK at least over there. Someone on the Japanese boards confirmed that Yuzuru (and the entire student population + faculty over at Tohoku High School in Sendai) have been evacuated with no serious injuries as well.

clovera wrote:

Haidogirl wrote:

I think Shizuka has a home in Tokyo, but not sure about this!

I really hope they wont cancel the Worlds now

Tokyo was pretty far off from the epicenter(s), so I'm sure things will be OK at least over there. Someone on the Japanese boards confirmed that Yuzuru (and the entire student population + faculty over at Tohoku High School in Sendai) have been evacuated with no serious injuries as well.

So Yuzu is safe?
I know it's terrible to think of only a few people in such a tragedy, but we always end up becoming a bit indiferent for those we don't know.

Quote :

Japan Quake - ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2011 Situation
11 Mar 2011 10:32

March 11, 2011 - 10:15 GMT

The ISU is in close contact with the Japanese Skating Federation (JSF). Based on a first on-site assessment by the JSF we have been informed that the Yoyogi stadium remains in order and the JSF advised that everything will be ready to hold the Championships as foreseen. We will of course continue to monitor the situation closely in cooperation with the JSF and inform of any developments.

Source: ISU Official Site

I hope that ISU and JSF study the situation very well, but I'm pretty sure that everything will be fine in two weeks time.

clovera wrote:

Haidogirl wrote:

I think Shizuka has a home in Tokyo, but not sure about this!

I really hope they wont cancel the Worlds now

Tokyo was pretty far off from the epicenter(s), so I'm sure things will be OK at least over there. Someone on the Japanese boards confirmed that Yuzuru (and the entire student population + faculty over at Tohoku High School in Sendai) have been evacuated with no serious injuries as well.

I'm relieved to hear that. Hope we could say the same thing for all Japanese people.

They are going to go on with Worlds? I have been looking forward to this competition, but will Japan really be in the right state to host a figure skating event (considering how popular it is over there) in just nine days?

Afsfan wrote:

clovera wrote:

Haidogirl wrote:

I think Shizuka has a home in Tokyo, but not sure about this!

I really hope they wont cancel the Worlds now

Tokyo was pretty far off from the epicenter(s), so I'm sure things will be OK at least over there. Someone on the Japanese boards confirmed that Yuzuru (and the entire student population + faculty over at Tohoku High School in Sendai) have been evacuated with no serious injuries as well.

I'm relieved to hear that. Hope we could say the same thing for all Japanese people.

Tweet from Shizuka - "Thank you for your concern. I'm okay for now, and also my family, doggies, and home will be safe."
Shocking images are still pouring in! :s

periperi wrote:

They are going to go on with Worlds? I have been looking forward to this competition, but will Japan really be in the right state to host a figure skating event (considering how popular it is over there) in just nine days?

In my opinion, it is much better to ascertain the safety of the people in Japan. As much as it pains me to say this, a figure skating competition in the midst of this tragedy is relatively unimportant right now, especially when you consider the amount of damages lost and the number of people who are still missing. Japan is a country which seems to deal with earthquakes really well when compared to other countries, but we shouldn't be too selfish even with this knowledge. We all want to see Mao compete, but the most important thing right now is making sure that Japan can get back to her feet right away.

BYW, I saw this Worlds commerical: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fQqFd4g4g8

yes i think too,the best thing they could do is to pospone it a month or so. Because, maybe competition is ok, but for example the exibition would be ackward, because i think is not time for exibitions. And Japanese skaters wouldn´t feel good.

and maybe the public is not ready to watch a competition.

I agree with all of you everyone. Plus, would Mao have it in her heart to seriously compete while her country just faced a devastating tragedy? I think she'll be quite shaken up at the very least.

I finally got hold of some of my friends. I'm so relieved that they are okay. It's so tragic many people lost loved ones. I agree with everybody- safety and compassion should be top priority.

Really scared yesterday in Tokyo but still better than Miyagi, Iwate by far.
Earthquake, tsunami, town in fire, mud flood are all disasters happened
yesterday. First, my friend joked whether Godzilla appear or not but it was
just a while. When news of loss and death broadcasted all over the world,
we cannot joke anymore. It is too serious.

But Japan can change place from Tokyo to Nagoya or else. Now there is
earthquake at Nakano too. So as Japanese standard, they have to check
and check for rink and arena's safety.

Hope that all posters who are in Japan/ have friends/relatives in Japan are safe!! Words probably cannot offer the best comfort but please do know that you are not alone. My prayers are with you.

Am very relieved to finally get in touch with a friend from Sendai and to hear that they are okay for now.

In the midst of crisis, you see the true nature of people. I am deeply moved me to see how orderly and self-restraint the Japanese are in the face of the confusion and destruction brought by tsunami and earthquake. Everything they've invested to prepare the country for something like this, seemed to be paying off - so far. It amazes me to see the number of casualties remaining relatively low for a disaster of such magnitude.

I agree with snowdrops24 about how impressive Japanese are handling this situation!
I've been reading so many tweets praising the building code in Japan which protected so many lives...

Frankly - if you ask me - the world champ should be postponed!
I know - skaters have been physically and mentally prepared for the competition!
But what is happening right now in there is bigger than anything OR anyone - even FS!
Plus - If something like this happened in my own country - maybe as an athlete - I would not have the heart to skate through it...:s
Mao - Kanako - Miki - Dai - Yuzuru - Taka - are all top notch skaters -
Making em go through this competition while the country has suffered would simply be excruciating!
Hell - Even other skaters would feel weird skating - (not bringing in further unresolved security issues for them! :s)
[GAAAAAH Yuna's tribute to Korea while Japan would be in grief -_ I can sense my pro-jap-yunahating friends bitching about this]

A postpone would be a tribute to those who suffered loss!

MaoChan756 wrote:

[GAAAAAH Yuna's tribute to Korea while Japan would be in grief -_ I can sense my pro-jap-yunahating friends bitching about this] (

I see nothing wrong with Yuna skating to Homage to Korea, it's just that the circumstances would point to her being 'insensitive' IF she skates this at Worlds. I'm emphasizing IF here because I think that Worlds need to be postponed.

klarification wrote:

MaoChan756 wrote:

[GAAAAAH Yuna's tribute to Korea while Japan would be in grief -_ I can sense my pro-jap-yunahating friends bitching about this] (

I see nothing wrong with Yuna skating to Homage to Korea, it's just that the circumstances would point to her being 'insensitive' IF she skates this at Worlds. I'm emphasizing IF here because I think that Worlds need to be postponed.

Me either -
But then again - as you pointed out - damn circumstances all go against her major comeback!
This moment of pain and chaos is overshadowing whatever is/will happen at the worlds -_
I have been so eager to watch her pro -
But now - I hope that ISU postpones the competition...

And yes - I've been to some YNK mad-fans forums! (sorry couldn't help it )
Now - if Miki wins...."the sympathy of judges with Japanese skaters"...
AND I do not want that to happen!!

Neithr bashing Yuna on her pros - nor treating jap skaters as trampling over the pain of their own to succeed! :s

In this article, Yuka Sato talked about her father and her mother and what they were doing while the earthquake happened:
http://www.freep.com/article/20110311/SPORTS17/110311017/Detroit-Skating-Club-coach-Sato-Parents-safe-Japan

I think it should be postponed and relocated to another place. Japan has much more important things to deal with at present.

aoi88 wrote:

I think it should be postponed and relocated to another place. Japan has much more important things to deal with at present.

I agree completely. Maybe Japan can switch with France who will be holding Worlds next year?

I guess I'll post here instead of the general quake thread over at the General Chat section, since it has to do with whether Worlds will even come into fruition.

This is currently an unpopular opinion - well, there's both sides debating this to the bone over at other forums but its an unpopular opinion over here at least - and will not be met with cheers from many, but barring further disaster (the idea of which is horrible to begin with and I hope will really not happen with the gravity of the situation already at hand) I find it really unlikely that the Tokyo Worlds will actually be canceled. Postponed, maybe, but not canceled. The only other possibility I can think of is some kind of mass withdrawal from the skaters themselves or limited transportation methods that will prevent the skaters from getting to the venue.

For better or for worse, Tokyo has remained relatively unscathed and Yoyogi Stadium remains undamaged; numerous top skaters are already in Japan too. At least one local competition have in fact taken place as scheduled - the Aichi Championships. Kanako and Miyabi participated in the SP today and leading in their respective division (senior and junior ladies). We're obviously worried about the state of the skaters, especially team Japan but do we really know about their intentions and mindset regarding Worlds? It ultimately is up to the skaters and their coaches (and the federations) if they want to compete and if they choose to do so, I really can't criticize them for it. The Shibs have stated their intention to compete under the premise that the situation starts looking up and there's surely other skaters who feel the same way.
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This is from the thread over at the General Chat section, but I hope linglang won't mind me quoting and replying to it here.

linglang wrote:

ETA: Why I was upset about the Aichi figure skating championship is that sport competition is a celebration to me. It's a way of celebrating human beings great athletic ability. So, holding a celebration while knowing there is a great tragedy in your own country is insane to me.

This is very true, but at the same time a sporting competition can also bring people together and raise awareness for a greater cause. Worlds *can* (not saying it necessarily will) be tied in with relief efforts. It's certainly not impossible and it can be done in a prudent, respectful manner.

And well, sporting events shouldn't just be the ones being weeded out IMO. School, work...the majority of people who aren't directly involved in disasters of any kind simply go on with their lives. This is just an avoidable part of life as 9/11, the Indonesian tsunamis, Hurrican Katrina, and countless other tragedies have taken place; not everyone will donate or volunteer during times of need if at all. Is it really fair to say that holding Worlds is being intrinsically insensitive? We all pray and send condolences, but is that actually doing something for the victims and those affected by the quake and the secondary disasters it triggered? I just don't think having the right thoughts are enough to claim higher moral ground against the ISU and the JSF should Worlds go on as scheduled (which is still a big if to begin with).

In any case, I just hope that regardless of what happens, it's after things have been thoroughly considered and not hastily put together. Not the best food for thought, I know, and this is all coming across as convoluted and not well reasoned but I just wanted to throw this out there. Ack.

ETA: As stated above, please take this post as food for thought - no more, no less. My personal opinion is that for now, it's better to not come to a conclusion of any kind, wait, and then depending on how things look...announce a postponement for Worlds accordingly. The JSF and ISU do not have this luxury however - further announcement will have to be made in the next few days.