Olympic Team Event In?

[AragornElessar]

According to an unnamed source in this it is...

CBC Sports.ca ~ Women's ski jumping back in Olympics: source

The officials say the International Olympic Committee executive board also approved ski halfpipe, mixed relay in biathlon and team events in luge and figure skating.

Not sure how I feel about this.

[Sylvia]

From Phil Hersh's 3/21 Globetrotting blog:

Cinquanta said the cancellation of the 2011 World Team Trophy will not affect the International Olympic Committee's acceptance, already provisional, of having a team event on the program at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia The IOC was to make its final decision after seeing how the 2011 World Team Trophy was handled.

``They will probably confirm what they have already decided: that there will be a team event in Sochi,'' Cinquanta said.

In a Monday email, IOC spokesman Mark Adams said IOC President Jacques Rogge ``will be in a position to make a proper decision despite the postponement of the event.

``We have asked the ISU for additional footage (of the only other World Team Trophy, in 2009),'' Adams wrote. ``The other elements we wanted to see are of technical nature. They already have been addressed between ISU and the IOC.''

ETA: For those who can access the Archives, there was a lively debate here in December 2009 about the pros and cons of holding a team event at the next Olympics: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/showthread.php?t=69777

[SmallFairy]

Norwegian media confirms it also,but of course they have no other information. What is the format of the Olympic team competition? I'm sorry if it's like world team trophy,because I haven't paid attention to that. An explanation is greatly appreciated

[kylet3]

Am I the only one thinking this is a terrible idea?

[SmallFairy]

Norwegian media confirms it too,of course they have no other information. Anyone know the format of this team event? I feel a bit strange about it...

[Vagabond]

What is the format of the Olympic team competition? I'm sorry if it's like world team trophy,because I haven't paid attention to that. An explanation is greatly appreciated

Here you go!

[HisWeirness]

Olympics-Sochi 2014 winter Games to have six new events

Women's ski jumping, team events for figure skating and luge, ski halfpipe for men and women and biathlon mixed relay were included in the programme for the Olympics at Russia's Black Sea resort.

Dubi said the decision on which sports made the cut was based on what they were bringing to the Olympics.

"Figure skating for example is an incredible sport. It is extremely popular among various cultures and age groups. (The figure skating team event) is an incredible proposition. It is something that will add huge value to the Olympic programme."

[Frau Muller]

Something cheesy about this. Just saying.

[SmallFairy]

Here you go!

ha ha most informative!


BTW sorry about the double post

[quebecoise]

I don't like the idea, but if the schedule of the team event is after all the "normal" disciplines, it can be ok. What I hope they won't do is to insert the team event between 2 normal disciplines(like free ladies and free men by exemple). That won't be nice for the skaters...

I'm still thinking they should have found a way to insert synchro skating as olympic sport instead of team event...

[Gidget]

The IOC has been adamant that they cannot increase the size of the Olympic Games (meaning no additional athletes). That means that they will either have to put together teams of athletes based on those who are already skating in individual events, or, more likely, reduce the number of skaters in the other individual events to make room for those who qualify for the team events. Bad move.

[Frau Muller]

So given who we know is up-and-coming on the World scene, it looks like this Team Event in 2014 might be tailor-made for Russia, Japan and Canada for the top 3, with possibility for USA or France in the mix. Russia and Japan for sure duking it out for the gold.

[Vagabond]

So given who we know is up-and-coming on the World scene, it looks like this Team Event in 2014 might be tailor-made for Russia, Japan and Canada for the top 3, with possibility for USA or France in the mix. Russia and Japan for sure duking it out for the gold.

Japan doesn't have any Olympic-eligible pairs teams and is unlikely to develop one between now and 2014. (Mervin Tran would have to live in Japan to obtain citizenship.) What's more, there's only one elite Japanese ice dance couple.

France has trouble fielding a pairs team these days and didn't send any pairs to Junior Worlds this year.

China (which Frau Muller didn't mention) has been having trouble developing pairs teams lately, and it's conceivable that they won't have a dance couple qualify for Sochi.

There is no guarantee that any other country -- not even Germany, Italy, or the Czech Republic -- will qualify entries in all four disciplines.

Maybe the IOC could just mail out the medals to Russia, Canada, and the U.S. and be done with it.

[Gidget]

Japan doesn't have any Olympic-eligible pairs teams and is unlikely to develop one between now and 2014. (Mervin Tran would have to live in Japan to obtain citizenship.) What's more, there's only one elite Japanese ice dance couple.

France has trouble fielding a pairs team these days and didn't send any pairs to Junior Worlds this year.

China (which Frau Muller didn't mention) has been having trouble developing pairs teams lately, and it's conceivable that they won't have a dance couple qualify for Sochi.

There is no guarantee that any other country -- not even Germany, Italy, or the Czech Republic -- will qualify entries in all four disciplines.

Maybe the IOC could just mail out the medals to Russia, Canada, and the U.S. and be done with it.

This is why I think this is so bad - they are going to have to come up with qualifications for TEAMS, and if you have to now allow pairs and dance teams in for the team event that wouldn't normally qualify on their own to the pairs and dance events (like Germany, Italy, CZE, etc), they are going to have to reduce the number of athletes from the singles events to make space for them. As I said, the IOC has been pretty adamant in the past that more events does NOT mean more athletes.

[joeperryfan]

The IOC likes sports that are evenly spread across the globe and across genders, giving incentive to team events usually has the aim of making some countries sponsor the disciplines where they are weakest in order to build a team. Hopefully it will also make some boys stick in the sport and make men more willing to watch since they prefer to root for teams instead of individuals. I haven't seen this practice work anywhere yet, maybe someone has a positive example to share?

[MikiAndoFan#1]

I think it's a terrible idea.

[smartblade]

The new format i think will give opportunity for more countries to be involved, unlike 2009. The new team format was to start with 10-12 teams and the first round and to only include 1 short program for men, ladies and pairs and 1 short dance. From there the top 5-6 teams would perform 1 free program for men, ladies and pairs and 1 free dance to determine the medal placements, and between the first round and medal round each team have the option of substitute athletes from up to two disciplines.

there may be a possibility that one nation may be able to have two teams entered into the team event. To fill the quota for teams for the event without having to add additional athletes outside those who have already qualified. An example may end up being
1) CAN 1 2) CAN 2 3) CHN 4) CZE 5) FRA 6) GER 7) ITA 8) JPN 9) RUS 1 10) RUS 2
11) USA 1 12) USA 2
This would be only possible it lets say canada, russia and usa qualified at least 2 entries in each discipline, and that countries like spain will need a pairs team to qualify or, CZE qualify a ladies entry.

This is an example only. Lets not get this twisted.

[ssmith17]

I think this is awesome. At last figure skaters will have the chance to compete for more than 1 event. I always thought it unfair how gymnasts could win 4,5, or even 6 medals, while figure skaters could only compete for 1!!

If you think its a terrible idea then you must also think that team events in gymnastics, equestrian, and ski jumping, are also terrible ideas despite the fact they have been around for years and have provided some brilliantly memorable Olympic moments.

Can you imagine if there had been a team event in Vancouver and Brian Joubert had a chance to redeem himself after his disaster in the single event? Mao rematch with Kim? THe Germans getting another shot at the Chinese pairs?

The potential for this could be great for figure skating.

[millipied]

A lot of my friends, who are casual FS viewers, like the idea. So maybe it can help the sport.

[manleywoman]

^ I'm with ssmith17. I love the idea. If they can structure it similarly to gymnastics, where there are some strong individuals, say, on the Greek team, but they are not strong enough to do all-around. It gives more opportunities for specialists.