2018/19 GP Assignments

[Xen]

Been looking at the baidu bars. The general tone seems to be if this is true, it sounds like not just skating, but more winter sport events in China will be cancelled, and that this is a larger move, the idea being that if just skating alone is not enough to get ISU notice, getting other winter events which China hosts, would push buttons (if not ISU then IOC).  The impetus still seems to be from the issue in speed skating (here is one article) with figure skatinb eing just collateral, and for such moves, the reason why it may have taken so long may be because the chinese sports governing agency had to approve of this move (so it's probably much higher than just CSA).

[hoodie axel]

9 minutes ago, Xen said:

the reason why it may have taken so long may be because the chinese sports governing agency had to approve of this move (so it's probably much higher than just CSA).

This is a good move, because then the CSA has a ready-made excuse to protect its athletes.

[Xen]

1 hour ago, hoodie axel said:

This is a good move, because then the CSA has a ready-made excuse to protect its athletes.

I saw something finally in Chinese news (but it's not in Xinhua net yet): http://sports.eastday.com/a/180613162045197000000.html

There's a part that has me laughing, because the diplo-speech is so evident:

"据悉，为了迎接2022年北京冬奥会，中国滑冰协会和中国花样滑冰协会对在中国举办的国际滑联相关赛事，无论从场地设施，还是办赛质量方面，都有了比以往更高的自我要求和标准。有关负责人说：“通过对近几年在我国举办的部分国际滑联赛事进行综合评估，我们认为这些赛事尚未达到国际滑联与中国滑冰协会和中国花样滑冰协会共同期待的办赛效果。通过与国际滑联沟通，我们认为暂时不在2018-2019赛季举办相关比赛，可以使我们有更充足的时间对各方面加以完善，在未来呈现更为精彩的赛事。”

According to what is known, in order to prepare for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, the Chinese Skating Association and the Chinese Figure Skating association plan to improve all aspects and go for stricter standards, whether it is in terms of venue or even overall competition quality, in all events related to the ISU. An authority related to the events said, "Through the ISU related skating events held in our country in the past years, we have evaluated, and we think that these events have not met the expectated results held by the ISU and the Chinese Skating and Chinese Figure skating associations. Through communcation with the ISU, we think that not holding the related events in the 18/19 season will allow us to have more time to complete the work in all related areas, and show much more exciting events in the future."

[hoodie axel]

13 minutes ago, Xen said:

According to what is known, in order to prepare for the 2022 Beijing Olympics, the Chinese Skating Association and the Chinese Figure Skating association plan to improve all aspects and go for stricter standards, whether it is in terms of venue or even overall competition quality, in all events related to the ISU. An authority related to the events said, "Through the ISU related skating events held in our country in the past years, we have evaluated, and we think that these events have not met the expectated results held by the ISU and the Chinese Skating and Chinese Figure skating associations. Through communcation with the ISU, we think that not holding the related events in the 18/19 season will allow us to have more time to prepare and complete the work in all related areas, and show a much more exciting event in the future."

So it's not from the Chinese OC's orders? Or this is what they're supposed to feed the ISU? I'm confused.

[Xen]

1 minute ago, hoodie axel said:

So it's not from the Chinese OC's orders? Or this is what they're supposed to feed the ISU? I'm confused.

No no, this is the official statement, which pretty much says nothing. In the article, they really did go with the entire "18/19 season is a season for basics, rennovating the rinks, sending people overseas, strengthen our bases, etc etc" That is the reason given to the news agencies so far. No one in the baidu bars believe it.

The reason why I highlighted the part I translated, is that is the closest to saying the true reasons.

I don't know if OC is involved, but there are some speculations that this is a larger move for 2022 and China is putting things in place for the long term-hence China is sending people overseas for training etc, so it minimizes its loss, while ensuring ISU gets maximum (money) loss.

[hoodie axel]

Ah, you mean this double entendre:

24 minutes ago, Xen said:

Through the ISU related skating events held in our country in the past years, we have evaluated, and we think that these events have not met the expectated results held by the ISU and the Chinese Skating and Chinese Figure skating associations.

 

[Xen]

6 hours ago, hoodie axel said:

Ah, you mean this double entendre:

 

Yes, essentially "expectations were not met" so...take a guess at whose expectations weren't met. Others in the baidu bars say that recent years, CoC has either broke even or made profit from the event, so certainly not ISU or even monetary expectations of Chinese Fed.

 

Edit: Finally, it's up on Xinhua: http://www.xinhuanet.com/sports/2018-06/13/c_1122980636.htm

English version from Xinhua: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-06/13/c_137251769.htm

 

Translating-I think there is some face saving going on, but whose face is being saved is a good question. 

Spoiler

The Chinese Ice Skating Association and the Chinese Figure skating association decided that in the 2018-2019 season they will not host any ISU competitions inside the country. The related people in the associations has expressed in the interview on June 13th with Xinhua reporters, that this decision was made in light of preparations for the Beijing 2022 Olympics overall strategy and with regards to the need for rennovating the competition venus in mind, and hope to show more exciting competitions in the future.

 

Currently on the ISU website display, the 2018-2019 figure skating, speed skating and short track events scheduled to be held in China have all changed status to TBA. And the relevant person from the Chinese Ice Skating and Chinese Figure Skating Association has confirmed with the Xinhua reporter, that this year, China will not host 5 ISU events, including the ISU Figure Skating GP event and the short track World Cup event.

 

The related person also said, "The decision to not host 2018-2019 ISU events in China is a carefully thought over decision from the Chinese Ice Skating Association and the Chinese Figure Skating Association, it was also reported to the ISU and received understanding and support from the ISU."

 

The move temporarily halt the events has 2 main reasons. First it is because of consideration for the overall strategy and planning in preparation for the olympic quad by the Chinese Ice Skating and Figure Skating Associations. Related person said, "2018 is a year of expanding basics, and each national team for the ice skating disciplines need to increase its competitive strengths, joining competitions need planning (strategy), hosting competitions need discretion. Should be doing more "going outwards" and more readily fit into the international training environment, more quickly adapt to the newest international competitive environment, endure challenges and undergo testing." 

 

After the Pyeongchang olympics, the winter games OC has officially entered the "Beijing quad," and competition venues, including the State Capital Rink that usually hosts the COC event will need to be renovated or made to serve other purposes. Related official also states that, "In order to do better the preparation and hosting work for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, many competition venues that were originally allotted to host ISU competitions, including the state capital rink, due to renovation or other inherent issues, are not able to host the related events in the time frame required by the ISU. Regretfully, after a lot of effort and coordination with all parties, it was still not able to be fully resolved."

 

Accordingly, in order to welcome the 2022 Olympics, the Chinese Ice Skating Association and the Chinese Figure Skating Association all have higher internal quality standards and demands, whether it is from overall event hosting quality or venue quality, in regards to related ISU events in China. Official said, "Through a comprehensive review of the ISU events held in our country in the recent years, we believe these competition events have not achieved (met) the expected effects that was anticipated by the ISU, Chinese Ice Skating and Chinese Figure Skating Associations (trans. notes: kind of implied effects for hosting events). Through our communication with the ISU, we think that temporarily halting 2018-2019 competition events will allow us to have more adequate time to complete work in all areas, so that in the future more exciting competitions will be seen."

 

[kaeryth]

 

[Winnie_20]

Awww... So close by and yet so far! (I’m in WA state then). I’d love to see the Ladies! Still, at least it’s a better timezone than China. ;-)

[asiacheetah]

19 hours ago, kaeryth said:

 

So Canada will have SC and COC (wonder what the name will be). Bad time for Kate to take the GP off and for Chiddy to retire. 

[kaeryth]

 

14 minutes ago, asiacheetah said:

So Canada will have SC and COC (wonder what the name will be). Bad time for Kate to take the GP off and for Chiddy to retire. 

 

Nah.. I think ISU wants to keep this GP in Asia so we're still waiting for South Korea's status. Canada's getting the Junior GP that's supposed to he held in Harbin.

[Xen]

The latest stuff coming out of China's baidu FS bar, is that of the events:

（Sina article)

-Shanghai Trophy: cancelled

-1 speed skating event--> transferred to Japan

- COC slot--> transferred to Korea

- 1 short track event --> Korea

-JGP event--> Vancouver

 

Currently Japan is confirmed, so is Vancouver, though for the event in Japan the specific location is TBA, just that it will be taken by JSF. For Korea, ISU is still waiting for confirmation due to the internal processes in Korea, and may be confirmed within the next 2-3 weeks. ISU prefers the events to be held in Asia, but in the off chance that Korea is unable to take 1 or both events, the event could be moved outside of Asia.

[Moria Polonius]

The cancellation of CoC poses an interesting twist in tetms of placements:  no Chinese interests to protect. I thought that China might not want to jnvite Yuzu in order to protect Boyang's chances, they'd most likely have wanted Kolyada and no other top-level skaters if they could avoid it. So, now, let's assume the event gets trensferred to Korea - Korea has no top Men's skater, nobody to protect, so they'd probably be all too happy to invite Yuzu to boost ticket sales. So the pool of hosts who probably wouldn't mind inviting Yuzu has just grown: SC, CoK, NHK, IdF. No matter where he goes, Yuzu won't avoid a skate off with either Nathan or Shoma, I don't suppose he'll meet Kolyada twice. But the CoK would be probably happy to invite anyone (unless they'll stipulate, "we'll do it if you send us Hanyu" lol) so Nathan might go there instead of IdF, which was basically Nathan's only choice before.

[Pamigena]

58 minutes ago, Moria Polonius said:

so Nathan might go there instead of IdF, which was basically Nathan's only choice before.

 

I thought Nathan wanted to choose his GPs based on his university schedule? Or do I remember that wrong?

[Yatagarasu]

Well, that's the wrong way to go about things because IOC will not look at that kindly. In any case, good luck to the Chinese athletes.