Montreal chosen as host for 2020 figure skating world championships

[ostile17]

I don't see Worlds being held this year unless a country is willing to do the same thing Putin was willing to do in 2011.

And welcoming a bomb to their country on top of that!

 

[rfisher]

No, because they obviously aren't aware of the risks they are running and the risks at which they are putting the community they go back to when they return home!

This is serious, maybe you don't understand!



This! 'Nuf said!

I work in health care. I do understand, but it's still each person's choice to attend or not if they have the event. The only issue for an individual is if they can get a refund if the event is cancelled or spectators are not allowed as if being recommended for many other sports events. But, that is an entirely different issue from an individual determining if they feel comfortable attending. I'm not saying they should or shouldn't cancel because what we're seeing is people are still going out in public regardless even those who are "working from home." Neither the US nor Canada are doing enforced quarantines. So, I'm not certain how well the community will be protected regardless.

 

[ostile17]

Actually I don't quite understand his concerns. First: all Italian skaters are in Canada at the moment, so they have travelled already. Second: at this point Italians seem to be safer in Canada than at home. Canada has less cases and probably the better health care system. Does he think it would be better for them to go back to Italy or does he think they have higher risk to catch the virus at Worlds? To me these concerns are a little confusing.

His concern is that these athletes are going to have to spend the next 7 days in close proximity with thousands of potential infected people, which didn't happen in Italy and yet we went from 0 cases to almost 11,000 in 20 days.

And Italy's health system works very well, especially in the areas most affected by the virus!

 

[giselle23]

Just cancelling this one event probably won't do anything to slow the spread of the virus. It would be a half-measure.

 

[Taso]

Just cancelling this one event probably won't do anything to slow the spread of the virus. It would be a half-measure.

I'm not so sure. With so many cases connected to the Biogen conference in Cambridge, MA - this would have spread slower, for sure, without that.

 

[Tinami Amori]

The city's hospitals are chronically understaffed, nurses are burnt out, and the wait times are some of the worst in Canada. We are not well-equipped to handle a pandemic.

Wow sounds like USSR and all other socialist countries situation, or any western countries with socialized, government run, free for all, medical system.

 

[Lil Sarah]

Wow sounds like USSR and all other socialist countries situation, or any western countries with socialized, government run, free for all, medical system.

It's fairly true, different areas have different health and medical issues across Canada. But in 99.99% of cases, I would much rather have to wait for a non-life threatening injury or illness than die simply because I don't have money to pay for treatments

 

[Satellizer]

Does anybody know when the next press conference or statement will be? It's almost 3pm in Montreal!

 

[gatorinfl]

Does anybody know when the next press conference or statement will be? It's almost 3pm in Montreal!

3:30 I believe.

 

[gatorinfl]

I work in health care. I do understand, but it's still each person's choice to attend or not if they have the event. The only issue for an individual is if they can get a refund if the event is cancelled or spectators are not allowed as if being recommended for many other sports events. But, that is an entirely different issue from an individual determining if they feel comfortable attending. I'm not saying they should or shouldn't cancel because what we're seeing is people are still going out in public regardless even those who are "working from home." Neither the US nor Canada are doing enforced quarantines. So, I'm not certain how well the community will be protected regardless.

Yes, we each have the choice as to attend or not. But the refund is not a small issue. My ticket was $1600 CDN ($1250 USD) and that is a lot to lose if I don’t feel comfortable to attend. It is five days (Wed. through Sun.) in an arena with approx. 2000 people from what I understand about attendance.

 

[Andora]

I can't think of a better time to discuss/judge healthcare systems than during a pandemic. I'm quite literally half-serious, but maybe it's not the thread.

There's just no practical way to hold Worlds later in the year, in any location. The skaters need their time off and then to start getting ready for the following season.

This is the only conclusion I can come to. I wondered about hosting it much later, like in May, because I always assume Canadian hockey teams are out of playoff contention at least. But it really doesn't work without throwing off not just next year, but beyond, I'm sure. I can see having issue with cancelling it all together while hockey games still go on in the very building, but I can't see this being worth the risk.

 

[Rock2]

Yes, we each have the choice as to attend or not. But the refund is not a small issue. My ticket was $1600 CDN ($1250 USD) and that is a lot to lose if I don’t feel comfortable to attend. It is five days (Wed. through Sun.) in an arena with approx. 2000 people from what I understand about attendance.

Perhaps you can then understand why a decision is coming at the very last minute. Because the economic and other ramifications to all involved are so large they are likely not even fully known. You, just like authorities, are holding out hope until the last minute that they can pull this off and avoid as much catastrophe as they might be saving. Sucks for everyone, but I do feel for event organizers, where a small number of people have to bear the weight of orders and orders of magnitude of impact beyond the individual case cited here, regardless of which way this goes.

 

[pat c]

Yes, we each have the choice as to attend or not. But the refund is not a small issue. My ticket was $1600 CDN ($1250 USD) and that is a lot to lose if I don’t feel comfortable to attend. It is five days (Wed. through Sun.) in an arena with approx. 2000 people from what I understand about attendance.

Must have been a typo......21,273 for hockey games.

Yes the cost of it. Averaging the cost of refunds 20,000 x 1000= $20M
Worlds was cancelled through WW2 and 1961. Those are the only times it hasn't been held.

 

[mocha-ice]

Yes, we each have the choice as to attend or not. But the refund is not a small issue. My ticket was $1600 CDN ($1250 USD) and that is a lot to lose if I don’t feel comfortable to attend. It is five days (Wed. through Sun.) in an arena with approx. 2000 people from what I understand about attendance.

The Bell Centre is the largest arena in the NHL - over 21 000 (I’m sure it’s not sold out and many seats blocked for judges but...)

 

[allezfred]

Just cancelling this one event probably won't do anything to slow the spread of the virus. It would be a half-measure.

Literally worst post ever. Thousands of people flying in from all over the world (including me!), including many from highly affected countries, with a significant portion of the audience extremely vulnerable to this virus. That’s even before these visitors pass it on to people in the local community. Anything that can be done to buy time at this stage is not a half measure.

 

[alchemy void]

This is the only conclusion I can come to. I wondered about hosting it much later, like in May, because I always assume Canadian hockey teams are out of playoff contention at least. But it really doesn't work without throwing off not just next year, but beyond, I'm sure. I can see having issue with cancelling it all together while hockey games still go on in the very building, but I can't see this being worth the risk.

The delayed 2011 Worlds were held the last week of April. So delaying Worlds well into spring wouldn't be completely unprecedented. However, it's not likely the outbreak will be under control in 6-8 weeks time.

Also in 2011, right after the event was finally postponed, I believe Speedy initially proposed postponing Worlds to October. Which made absolutely no sense, but there you go.

 

[muffinplus]

It's fairly true, different areas have different health and medical issues across Canada. But in 99.99% of cases, I would much rather have to wait for a non-life threatening injury or illness than die simply because I don't have money to pay for treatments

I guess except sometimes you wait for months and die before you get treatment...life threatening isn't always immediately life threatening

 

[Erin]

Also in 2011, right after the event was finally postponed, I believe Speedy initially proposed postponing Worlds to October. Which made absolutely no sense, but there you go.

The same solution has been proposed as a possibility for this year’s Short Track Worlds. With the cancellation, the ISU said they would consider rescheduling but not before October. I found that odd (and who knows if it will end up happening), but it appears it was not a one-time suggestion.

 

[missing]

Phil Hersh just tweeted that it's cancelled.

 

[gatorinfl]

Perhaps you can then understand why a decision is coming at the very last minute. Because the economic and other ramifications to all involved are so large they are likely not even fully known. You, just like authorities, are holding out hope until the last minute that they can pull this off and avoid as much catastrophe as they might be saving. Sucks for everyone, but I do feel for event organizers, where a small number of people have to bear the weight of orders and orders of magnitude of impact beyond the individual case cited here, regardless of which way this goes.

This might sound awful, but I don’t really feel for the organizers except for the staff. Buying my ticket at 9 a.m. on the first day of the pre-sale, I was not even able to choose my section. Then, months later when Day tickets went on sale there were better seats available than I was able to get on that first day. And the organizers have had use of the ticket money for almost a year. Perhaps they needed some of that money for preparations, but $20 million?

 

[Colonel Green]

Phil Hersh just tweeted that it's cancelled.

Early prediction: they’ll announce Montreal for 2023 Worlds in the near future.

 

[Debbie S]

Early prediction: they’ll announce Montreal for 2023 Worlds in the near future.

I've heard that 2023 has been given to Japan. I guess that could change.

 

[skatingguy]

I've heard that 2023 has been given to Japan. I guess that could change.

The ISU hasn't made any announcements about events that far in the future.

 

[Andora]

The delayed 2011 Worlds were held the last week of April. So delaying Worlds well into spring wouldn't be completely unprecedented. However, it's not likely the outbreak will be under control in 6-8 weeks time.

Also in 2011, right after the event was finally postponed, I believe Speedy initially proposed postponing Worlds to October. Which made absolutely no sense, but there you go.

This is why I suggested May as an outside consideration for a date, which is possibly/probably still too early.

And, geez, Speedy Sucks truly was legendary.

 

[skatesindreams]

Phil Hersh just tweeted that it's cancelled.

Sadly, the best decision, under the circumstances.

 

[livetoskate]

I agree. The responsible thing to do was to cancel worlds.

 

[bladesofgorey]

I work in health care. I do understand, but it's still each person's choice to attend or not if they have the event. The only issue for an individual is if they can get a refund if the event is cancelled or spectators are not allowed as if being recommended for many other sports events. But, that is an entirely different issue from an individual determining if they feel comfortable attending. I'm not saying they should or shouldn't cancel because what we're seeing is people are still going out in public regardless even those who are "working from home." Neither the US nor Canada are doing enforced quarantines. So, I'm not certain how well the community will be protected regardless.

I take it you aren't a doctor or RN or a researcher that works in infectious diseases. There's a big difference between individuals going out in public and hundreds of people gathering in close proximity in one place. Particularly in a pandemic. I hope you don't give out medical advice on the internet often.

 

[PRlady]

Wow sounds like USSR and all other socialist countries situation, or any western countries with socialized, government run, free for all, medical system.

I’m at our capitalist system’s best hospital in the US capital right now waiting for a doctor who is always running behind because there are not enough beds, specialists or anything to go round. The ER downstairs has a six-hour wait times at the moment, it’s much worse on weekends. And some of those patients will walk out bankrupt from their cost of care, not a problem anywhere else.

 

[NinjaTurtles]

As an epidemiologist, I absolutely agree with this decision for the best interests of the residents of the Québec province. As a figure skating fan with tickets to the event, learning this news on her birthday, I am in a thousand depressions.

J'ai le cafard!

 

[Gris]

This is the responsible thing to do, if only they could decide on it earlier.