I don't really wanna dwell too much on why he made all these decisions and whether they were sound since we simply don't have enough information. Nevertheless, it should be remembered that all these skaters have pretty much been keeping themselves safe by either quarantining or social distancing within their own circles since we have not seen any evidence otherwise. Let's give them the benefits of the doubt, especially with Yuzu leading them. I trust in him and his judgment because he has matured so much since the past year. 

I don't have enough information to judge and I certainly think that SOI could/should be held with stricter measures. However, I don't think we should compare it with Yuzu's GP withdrawal.

 

Just my personal opinion:

The world was different back then. We had little experience of how to hold competition/events. We thought it would be over after staying home for a while. I lived through SARS in Hong Kong as a kid and it was over after a few months. We thought it would be the same this time. We wanted the strictest measures so we could have our normal lives back soon. Unfortunately it didn't turn out that way.

 

Many people don't have the luxury to wait for several years to get back to work until enough people getting vaccinated. Even until then, there may be new variants beating the vaccines. Mental health is also a huge problem now. I am more inclined to start holding events, just ensure that we are doing our best to reduce the health risks.

There are 20 skaters participating SOI of which 7 have been living on pretty much same schedule for the past month participating in the same competitions and guaranteeing pretty much all the time. Nothing is 100 % safe and I don´t know anything about SOI safety measures (or if there is any) but I think that even before pandemic skaters have been creating their own show tour bubbles. They have same schedule, hotels, food, practices and so on. And it only takes one person with virus who can collapse this bubble, but it also creates this sense of security and togetherness like ”we are all in this together, let´s do our best and care for each other”. This is the feeling that I get from the video material. I really hope that SOI bubble will last and it´s not false sense of security.

49 minutes ago, CaroSkate said:

I don't have enough information to judge and I certainly think that SOI could/should be held with stricter measures. However, I don't think we should compare it with Yuzu's GP withdrawal.

 

 

 

Yes, I completely agree with that. We don't know anything about the skaters' contracts and obligations and that's why I don't want to judge any of them for attending Worlds, WTT or SOI. I fully understand that this is their profession and financial source and life must go on. Nothing against that.

 

I'm very sorry, if my posts sounded offensive or negative. It's just that I experienced many things at school that made me feel very sensitive towards any violation of basic rules like wearing masks or social distancing.

It was so disarming, when I asked two fifth graders not to high-five and hug each other and they responded: "But all the football players do it, too! They even exchange their shirts! Why can we not?!" Yes, why not...

 

Even if the skaters have created something like their own bubble and feel safe when being in close contact with each other. Their behavior is also an example for millions of people out there and I'm sure many feel like: 'If a careful person like Yuzuru Hanyu doesn't wear a mask and touches other people again, I can do that, too. It's not dangerous anymore.' And this makes me worried 

 

 

EDIT:

Actually, I don't have the right to say anything, since I enjoyed all the news and clips from SOI myself. So I'll leave it at that and move on with positive posts 

22 minutes ago, Henni147 said:

If a careful person like Yuzuru Hanyu doesn't wear a mask and touches other people again, I can do that, too. It's not dangerous anymore.' And this makes me worried 

I really know what you are saying Henni, and sympathise with your position as you try your best to get young people to act in accordance with best public health advice ..... BUT poor Yuzuru - he has had to live his life (certainly since the 2011 earthquake/tsunami at just 16) with this huge expectation (from himself and increasingly from others) on his shoulders of being a perfect human being and justifying everything he does, to himself, and to the world. It's so much for him. I was glad to see him have some fun, he loves shows, and he is so good with people and the other skaters (though maybe just a tad bossy lol) - they were wearing masks at practice so they obviously continue to do what they can to reduce the risks but they don't have power or control over eg audience size, and want to give the best that they can, and that is what they have been trained to do, to perform. They have quarantined, and hopefully are sticking to their bubble, it's not perfect, but neither are we, and neither is Hanyu Yuzuru 100% of the time (he probably is perfect for most of it! ...though his mum may disagree...!!)  Organisers of these events are those that hold responsibility for enabling everyone to adhere to covid secure policies and they didn't - on a bigger scale Japan doesn't prosecute when restrictions are ignored, THAT would give a strong message about expectations to everyone...but there is not much Yuzuru or the other skaters can do about that (apart from become politically engaged and vote in elections!)  I don't hold any of the skaters responsible, and still admire Yuzuru for speaking out as he was a lone voice at the time he withdrew from GPS, I believe his sentiment to health workers was and is genuine still. I feel he deserves to be cut a bit of slack personally. He's just a young(ish) man doing his best. (oh OK I admit it, I love him lots and forgive him anything and everything!)

40 minutes ago, Henni147 said:

 

Yes, I completely agree with that. We don't know anything about the skaters' contracts and obligations and that's why I don't want to judge any of them for attending Worlds, WTT or SOI. I fully understand that this is their profession and financial source and life must go on. Nothing against that.

 

I'm very sorry, if my posts sounded offensive or negative. It's just that I experienced many things at school that made me feel very sensitive towards any violation of basic rules like wearing masks or social distancing.

It was so disarming, when I asked two fifth graders not to high-five and hug each other and they responded: "But all the football players do it, too! They even exchange their shirts! Why can we not?!" Yes, why not...

 

Even if the skaters have created something like their own bubble and feel safe when being in close contact with each other. Their behavior is also an example for millions of people out there and I'm sure many feel like: 'If a careful person like Yuzuru Hanyu doesn't wear a mask and touches other people again, I can do that, too. It's not dangerous anymore.' And this makes me worried 

 

 

EDIT:

Actually, I don't have the right to say anything, since I enjoyed all the news and clips from SOI myself. So I'll leave it at that and move on with positive posts 

I get what you mean about conflicted feelings. I do too. 

 

Yes, we don't know what happened behind the scenes that may have lead to the skater's decisions, particularly Yuzu's. Anyway, the behind the scene clips showed skaters wearing masks, even as they walked around (well most of them), both when they were close and far from each other. It's only when they performed did they take off the masks while still standing close. That's a lot of contradictory actions lumping together in an event that shouldn't have happened. IMO there must be some sort of special arrangement going on.

 

Anyway, I don't know anymore. Please stay safe, Yuzu 

I thought by now everyone knows that the skaters are contractually obligated to skate in SOI.

Yuzu may have concerns but if the organisers want to hold it, he & the other skaters has to appear.

 

And that this year's ice shows are actually to replace the cancelled ones from last year?

 

 

just saw this about Mao’s ice show, seems common practice on the performance ice not to distance or wear masks 

Tbh the skaters themselves have probably been tested multiple times up to this event, so I think they're not really at a huge risk. At the very least, they could've had an agreement to not go anywhere other than the rink. Yuzu seems to trust Japanese skaters more than foreign ones (ie his behavior at WC was totally different) and so I'm guessing there's a reason for that. Of course the main issue is the thousands of (probably older) people who haven't been tested, probably haven't been quarantining, and are sitting close together and screaming and clapping and crowding around in the arena... 

26 minutes ago, Pammi said:

..... BUT poor Yuzuru - he has had to live his life (certainly since the 2011 earthquake/tsunami at just 16) with this huge expectation (from himself and increasingly from others) on his shoulders of being a perfect human being and justifying everything he does, to himself, and to the world. It's so much for him. I was glad to see him have some fun, he loves shows, and he is so good with people and the other skaters (though maybe just a tad bossy lol) 

I feel he deserves to be cut a bit of slack personally. He's just a young(ish) man doing his best. (oh OK I admit it, I love him lots and forgive him anything and everything!)

 

THIS. Not just in relation to SOI and how it was handled during this pandemic, but in general. I'm going to put this under spoiler, just in case it runs tangent/off-topic...

 

Spoiler

 

I can't help but think that almost everything he does is either blown out of proportion or taken out of context. So much so that he has to be conscious of his movements all of the time. So yeah, I feel that he deserves a break - he is not perfect, and he is only human, with human limitations (in SOI's case, it's probably contractual  ).

 

I find it sad that, as Pammi said, people have these high expectations of him, and there always seems to have a need for him to justify the things he does. He can't even wear a tight, see-through shirt without it becoming a big deal. Shirts that ride up when he jumps or spins during practice are also a thing. He said he hasn't even been to Niagara Falls, and I think that's not so far away from TCC (I've never been there, so please correct me if inaccurate). And he can't even be friendly with girls before there is a need to clarify matters via a presscon (remember the marriage rumors) or an interview (like that matter with Zhenya).

 

I sometimes feel pity for him because his life would never be just normal. I console myself by thinking that (1) he probably enjoys the challenge half (or most) of the time anyway, (2) at least, he has a solid support system (his family, friends, team), and (3) whatever happens, our boi is already legend - he is loved, he has fame, and fortune. My only wish is for him to be happy and healthy, on his way to conquering Nessie...

 

 

2 hours ago, yuzuangel said:

Tbh the skaters themselves have probably been tested multiple times up to this event, so I think they're not really at a huge risk. At the very least, they could've had an agreement to not go anywhere other than the rink. Yuzu seems to trust Japanese skaters more than foreign ones (ie his behavior at WC was totally different) and so I'm guessing there's a reason for that. Of course the main issue is the thousands of (probably older) people who haven't been tested, probably haven't been quarantining, and are sitting close together and screaming and clapping and crowding around in the arena... 

I hope they've been testing the skaters regularly and isolating them as much as possible during rehearsals and such. Like someone mentioned Mao's tour is not too different with the lack of distancing and mask wearing while on ice (and they've been holding the show like this since maybe August of last year?). I'm hopeful that the skaters/crew can keep safe though I do wish they'd do away with group skates and not allow the audience to sit so close to the ice. It's just strange to see a different standard for an ice show that was done for World Team Trophy but you're probably right in that in Japan they were more strict because there were foreigners coming.

Roman postet a new Video on bis YT channel about WTT and the bubble and all

 

 

They felt safe and were happy to be there 🙂 

 

They were isolated at Tokyo airport, tested several times during their stay and had a chartered flight from Tokyo to Osaka to prevent them travelling on public transport- special transport to and from the rink and not allowed outside the rink/hotel -  tbh the only bit of the journey that seems to have made him uncomfortable Covid wise  was going through Chicago airport.  Why ISU/ JSF couldn’t say that this was the case baffles me.🙄

19 hours ago, yuzuangel said:

Thanks to @Wyell again, we have Day 4 highlights! And this includes Rika's program for anyone looking for that:

 

This post has been tagged by yuzuangel as [NEWS].

All this and we get a Takeshi Kaneshiro commercial at the end? A+++

12 hours ago, Anni said:

 

Here is the tanslation of the conversation between Yuzu and Yuka Sato

[NEWS]

 

 

Yuzu, please take care of yourself.

 

looking at that GIANT ugly-looking bruise:

WHOA, Yuzuru skated on it, knee-slided on it, landed quads on it

I would say "Yuzu please take my knee", but I was able to get myself back pain merely slouching on grass&daisies on a sunny sunday (and had hard time lifting a baking tray as a result).. so I'm not sure that my knees would be of any use to him.

 

(seriously though, Yuzuru take care of yourself and Nessie plz don't hurt him, we've got enough snakes with Lz, Lo and even 4T)

 

 

//////covid

personally, the group-kick choreo in the finale doesn't disturb me much for two reasons:

1) skaters are the most monitored people in that arena, and those who were at WTT have basically been strictly monitored and undergoing multiple tests for more than a month, and while WTT wasn't risk free for them, with foreign skaters and coaches not having quarantined, there was ongoing testing on site and jpn skaters were wearing masks as much as they could, group numbers included.

2) since airborne trasmission is main route and skaters had been sharing the rink maskless, for other group numbers too, one touch and being shoulder by shoulder for 30 seconds wouldn't add much to the overall risk: they had been breathing the same air anyway, if there was some virus cloud floating around in the rink they would have all been already immersed in it I know this is not exactly an uplifting thought, but it is what it is. The overall the choice to have group numbers all maskless is IMO worse, and the choice to have packed arena is by far the worst, since people in the audience are a lot less monitored than any skater (and pretty likely they also have more risky contacts in general)

 

Apparently shows like SOI and Mao's tour (but at MOI, too, iirc skaters were maskless in th efinale, thoguh they kept distance) have all chosen to go for no mask in group numbers. Organizers all basically gave up on the the idea of keeping skaters isolated from each other from the get-go.

I appreciate that in other occasions, in group numbers practice, they were masking, but all the skaters have de-facto been in each other's "bubble" (which of course means that if one of them was unlucky, the whole group was at high risk. We can only hope that testing and skaters' self-awareness were enough).

/////