Introducing new Pro-Am: Medal Winners Open, Oct. 5th in Japan

[Ziggy]

This must be the worst competition name ever.

[midori]

This must be the worst competition name ever.

"The winners of the Medal Winners Open" "A medalist of the Medal Winners Open"... yeah, it is more confusing than the four continentals.

[riveredge]

Will Yuna be invited to this?

[NONKO]

Tickets will be on sale generally from June 30th, but we can participate in drawing of tickets now till June 14th. The result will be announced on June 15th.
It is accepted on the internet only. If you understand in Japanese, anyone can participate in it.

http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/mwo2012/

[NONKO]

Additional skaters have announced in Medal Winners Open.
Philippe Candeloro and Laura Lepisto were added in the list.

http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/mwo2012/

And here is a Facebook page of Medal Winners Open.
http://www.facebook.com/MedalWinnersOpen

[ilovesalchows]

Invite Midori Ito!

[Cherub721]

Additional skaters have announced in Medal Winners Open.
Philippe Candeloro and Laura Lepisto were added in the list.

Wow! I thought Candeloro had retired from show skating. Can't wait to see him.

[skatesindreams]

I'll be pleased to see them!

[BigB08822]

Come on, do whatever you have to do to get the Kween!

[casken]

Holy crap, Candeloro!?! This is going to be a trip.

[Sylvia]

Candeloro performed at the Cleveland Skating Club's show in early May.

Invite Midori Ito!

I would imagine she's been asked. Last month she competed in the ISU Adult FS competition in Oberstdorf for the second year, this time in a Masters Artistic event (PCS judging only) - link to the thread in GSD with her video: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/showthread.php?t=83794

[caseyedwards]

Slutskaya!!

[Excidra]

I'd love to see Slutskaya but Japan is too far.

[blue_idealist]

Yagudin?! For some reason I thought he couldn't skate anymore.

[milanessa]

Yagudin?! For some reason I thought he couldn't skate anymore.

He's pretty much been skating all along.

[NONKO]

Yagudin?! For some reason I thought he couldn't skate anymore.

Alexei has been being one of the best artists on the ice

http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/showthread.php?t=80630
http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/showthread.php?t=80043
http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/showthread.php?t=81715
http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/showthread.php?t=77073
http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/showthread.php?t=83054

[kwanfan1818]

Laura Lepisto posted to Facebook that she's been invited. I just haven't yet figured out how to quote or link from an iPad, or if this is possible.

ETA: (from my computer):

I'm so excited to say that I will participate the Medal Winners Open, a totally new kind of show program competition which is held next October in Tokyo! How I've missed Japan!! ♥

https://www.facebook.com/LepistoLaur...50963426188150

[Frau Muller]

I can imagine Ito, Arakawa and Asada doing this. It would be great to also have Yu-Na Kim. The good news about no Dance and Pairs is that there should be lots of room (time) to include many singles skaters.

This almost sounds like Scott Hamilton & Speedy Cinquanta's idea last year for "The ICE" Pro-Am, i.e., invite only past Oly and World medalists, except that they had suggested a time-limit to when entires had won their last medals (10 years, I think).

[Iceman]

I wish they would invite Michelle and she would compete.

[EauDMerveilles]

I'm not sure even Japanese fans can fill the arena for both events.

If you view the two events plus the following carnival on ice as a GP without pairs and ice-dance I think it's pretty easy to fill. Look at that cast. Ilia, Jeff, Irina and Alexei. I'm hoping for some other big names too, you know, the newly-retired generation has some very-very good performers.