Future Worlds....

[dlk228]

De-lurking to ask... How far in advance do they award World Championships to the host cities? And how can I find out who is in the running? I am anxiously awaiting Worlds return to North America in a non-Oly year!

Thanks in advance!

[SkateFan123]

De-lurking to ask... How far in advance do they award World Championships to the host cities? And how can I find out who is in the running? I am anxiously awaiting Worlds return to North America in a non-Oly year!

Thanks in advance!

2006 Worlds will be in Calagary, ticket info to be available soon.

2007 Worlds will be in Tokyo, Japan
ISU announcement http://www.isu.org/vsite/vcontent/content/transnews/0,10869,4844-128611-19728-18963-128634-3962-4771-layout46-129919-news-item,00.html

2008 Worlds most likely will be announced in the late spring.

[AshBugg44]

Portland for Worlds!!!

:D

[SkateFan123]

Portland for Worlds!!!

:D

2007 4Cs is looking for a home. Bid is due by April 2005. Perhaps your area will bid on that!

The bid for 2008 Worlds is also due in April, by the way.

However, the Portland volunteers might must be a little tired this week to think about it!

[Artemis]

I think you can pretty much guarantee there will be at least one major international event in Vancouver before 2010. Since worlds are in Calgary in 2006, I'm betting on 4CC in, say, 2009 (assuming the new-and-improved Coliseum is done by then). I hope that won't knock Portland out of the running -- different countries, but folks in the ISU might see it as the same "region" as Vancouver. I'd love to go to Portland for a big event -- it's a great city, and a fairly easy drive from Vancouver.

[PAskate]

I don't expect Portland to land Worlds, 4Cs, or Skate America in the near future. Being in the section immediately next to the USFS seats can be both good and bad. In this case, I wasn't hearing good feedback from those people that will be in a position to make those types of decisions.

[AshBugg44]

Well Spokane got 2002 Skate American and 2007 Nationals, so there's hope for us! :D

[jkl]

I don't expect Portland to land Worlds, 4Cs, or Skate America in the near future. Being in the section immediately next to the USFS seats can be both good and bad. In this case, I wasn't hearing good feedback from those people that will be in a position to make those types of decisions.

Other than the ice storm I thought that Portland handled things very well! Was there anything specific you overheard or just grumbling?

[SkateFan123]

Other than the ice storm I thought that Portland handled things very well! Was there anything specific you overheard or just grumbling?

Many credentialled people complained about the free food running out early in the day. Otherwise, the complaints I heard were from fans about the confiscation of food, water, etc, and the poor seating in the secondary venue.

I heard nothing negative from any skater.

[dlk228]

Thank you!

[pittypat]

Portland was awesome and would be perfect venue for Worlds !!!!!

[icedancer2]

Portland was awesome and would be perfect venue for Worlds !!!!!

thank you -- we sure had fun having you all!!

I think it would be great to have a "smaller" competition like 4C, SA -- heck even one of those little "cheesefests" that are usually in what we call "back east".

Worlds would be awesome.

We could have the Olympics here too because we do have mountains with snow for ski-ing events!

icedancer -- dreaming big after Nationals 2005!

[AlexDSSF]

I would like to see the World Figure Skating Championships in Australia. The 2000 worlds would have been held in Brisbane, had it not been for some fighting over Australian broadcast rights. Hell, a World Championships in the Southern Hemisphere would be nice.

[iceygold]

Australia will never get a World Championship whilst Cinquanta is in power. Australia has also applied for a Four Continents Championship in the past but the ISU wont look at it. They keep citing the television stations wont pay for rights. That is not correct, there is one station in particular that is quite prepared to pay for domestic rights. After the Federation took the ISU on following the ISU taking the championships away 6 months prior to the event to give it to France, Australia is not in favour with Cinquanta.

Australia held 2 Junior World Championship events without a problem. Dont hold your breath waiting for a Worlds or 4CC

[icedancer2]

I saw this item in our local paper, The Oregonian, today. It seems like at least some people had a great time in Portland!!:

"I had the opportunity of spending one week in your city during the recent U.S. Figure Skating Championships. I have never felt so welcomed by any other city while attending a skating event.

"From the first moment of arrival, the airport personnel seemed to sense our confusion and physically helped us to obtain MAX tickets and directed us to the proper trains. Those Portlanders we came into contact with all week bent over backward to help make our stay pleasant.

"I can't say enough about the hotel personnel, sales associates in stores, restaurant employees, grocery-drugstore clerks, etc. The employees and volunteers at both ice arenas were helpful and courteous.

"They went out of their way to be pleasant while expeditiously doing the mandatory search of all carry-in items to the arenas.

"The MAX personnel at the Rose Garden station was exceptional. Adding extra trains just in time for the finish of each event, especially at night when thousands of people were exiting the arenas at once, was very considerate to those waiting in the cold and ice for the next trains.

"There was even a MAX coordinator at that station, helping to direct people via a loudspeaker system. I'm sure he was just as cold and tired as his visitors.

"The local organizing committee for the events themselves did a superb job of making sure all events moved along smoothly and seamlessly. It was also obvious that a great team of marketers and advertisers had done their job well.

"All of the behind-the-scenes people, from the ice-makers to the ice monitors (getting the skaters on the ice at their exact times) to the sewing crew making sure the skaters costumes stayed in one piece did their respective jobs very well.

"I don't want to forget the citizens of Portland that weren't involved with the skating competition. We met hundreds of them on the trains, while sightseeing and when eating and shopping.

"They were all very friendly, always asking if we were there for the skating and if we were enjoying ourselves.

"Speaking on behalf of myself and the 12 others in my group, all of Portland did themselves proud. I am certain that those people visiting from all over the country took notice of your fair city and wonderful hospitality."

Come on back in the summer and they'll show you an even warmer side to the city.

[PAskate]

Other than the ice storm I thought that Portland handled things very well! Was there anything specific you overheard or just grumbling?

For anyone reading this - it's not that I had any issues with Portland. However, I heard complaints from officials (and ones way, way, way up the food chain) about hospitality, organization, and transportation. Having worked as a volunteer at a previous nationals and worlds, it's tough to get future assignments when the people with the severe complaints are the ones that make the decisions on future assignments. Without breaking any confidentiality, I can say that based on some of what I overheard, their issues are extremely valid ones that would negatively impact future decisions.

[icedancer2]

For anyone reading this - it's not that I had any issues with Portland. However, I heard complaints from officials (and ones way, way, way up the food chain) about hospitality, organization, and transportation. Having worked as a volunteer at a previous nationals and worlds, it's tough to get future assignments when the people with the severe complaints are the ones that make the decisions on future assignments. Without breaking any confidentiality, I can say that based on some of what I overheard, their issues are extremely valid ones that would negatively impact future decisions.

Well, hopefully these higher-ups will have informed the Portland LOC of these alleged shortcomings!!

We still had a good time anyway. :P

[pittypat]

Portland for Worlds!!!

:D


I agree & I wrote the mayor of Portland and told him so. What a wonderful venue that was & Portland is great!

[icedancer2]

I agree & I wrote the mayor of Portland and told him so. What a wonderful venue that was & Portland is great!

Well, that is so nice!!

World's would be good in Portland. For one thing, the weather in the spring is much better than in the winter -- the city is bursting with blossoming everything, and although there is rain, there will never, ever be ice in the spring.

Also World's now seems a lot smaller than Nationals -- at least there are less events, even with the qualifying rounds. A few less atheletes...

Yes, I think Portland is ripe for Worlds. We could take our experience from this Nationals (which we hadn't done since 1978) and make an even better Worlds. Oh yes, it can happen!! :) :) :)

[AshBugg44]

Hmmm I wonder why the "high-up" officials were grumbling about transportation - everyone else has raved about it! I've yet to hear one bad thing about the transportation in Portland.

[pittypat]

Hmmm I wonder why the "high-up" officials were grumbling about transportation - everyone else has raved about it! I've yet to hear one bad thing about the transportation in Portland.

No kidding. I was blown away by the fabulous light-rail system and the fact that it was clean, efficient and free within the city, well, what's not to love about it??????

[icedancer2]

I didn't hear anything specific at all, but my guess is that it had less to do with the transportation within the city for spectators -- the MAX, etc., is great -- and more to do with the official buses for officials, atheletes, etc.

I took those buses a couple of times myself, however, and they were fine. Who knows though -- maybe someone was late for an event, etc., because of the timing of those buses or something.

I noticed that certain people got pretty whacked out when something didn't go according to their own plan -- what they felt they "deserved" or whatever. I chalk it up to basic tension and a feeling of Priviledge in general, but that's just MHO.


:giveup:

[snoopysnake]

Boston would be a great choice. 2001 Nationals were apparently a great success (for those lucky enough to attend - I got "chacked" by my company from using my all-event ticket :( :cry: )

There is a brand new facility at Boston University (Agganis Center) as well as the venerable Mathews Arena for practices and novice/junior segments, as well as the Fleet Center (which will probably have a different name by 2008) for the major portions of the competition.