Decisions of the ISU Council: Stockholm Worlds (March 22-28) still on; Synchro Worlds cancelled; 2021 Grand Prix schedule/Beijing test event announced

[Karen-W]

But the skaters didn't set up the bubble. The skaters are following the rules they were given. Then people are bitching about how they don't care about the rules because the rules they were given were not the rules that the people bitching would have given. I don't see any skaters breaking the rules in that photo so I don't see it as proof that "the Russians will do whatever they want" or that "the Russians don't follow the rules."

Exactly. You can follow almost all the skaters on IG and they're all masking (even those Russians who are maskless warriors at home) in the common areas of the hotel. There is a great lounge, a play/game area (TVs with gaming consoles, ping pong, arcade games, etc), an outdoor deck, dining area set up in the hotel, and I've seen a common workout room shared by a few skaters also. The OC has done a really nice job of trying to give the skaters the best experience possible in spite of all the restrictions (and some nice candles in their goodie bag - check out Liza Tuk's IG story for up close of the votive and other candle - she seemed to love the smell, lol).

 

[mjb52]

Aeroflot gave flowers to the skaters on departure as well, which I thought was cute. I'm glad to hear the set-up sounds so nice.

 

[tony]

I'm not gearing this at anyone specifically, but I just can't understand why anyone was so sure the Russians would run free and break all the rules set up by the ISU once they got to Sweden anyways. Some people reiterated that as many times as they could, as if they were so sure they knew what was coming. It was pointed out by several posters that this event has a great significance, the skaters are going to take it seriously, and they are going to follow the rules of the location/jurisdiction. They weren't going to think they were above everything just because.

This event is going to run successfully, I hope there are no more withdrawals, and then hopefully the posters who have had anxiety over all of it can breathe a little easier. It's skating, everyone is doing their parts (even the ones who are flaunting themselves on IG more than others), and yes, they are excited to compete. And everyone here should be excited too.

 

[mjb52]

I don't know if they just have a good photographer or what but the arena looks quite nice as well. The red seats give it a nice theater/opera house vibe, from afar at least.

 

[Brenda_Bottems]

Is there to be artificial crowd noise at this event?

-BB

 

[Karen-W]

I'm not gearing this at anyone specifically, but I just can't understand why anyone was so sure the Russians would run free and break all the rules set up by the ISU once they got to Sweden anyways. Some people reiterated that as many times as they could, as if they were so sure they knew what was coming. It was pointed out by several posters that this event has a great significance, the skaters are going to take it seriously, and they are going to follow the rules of the location/jurisdiction. They weren't going to think they were above everything just because.

This event is going to run successfully, I hope there are no more withdrawals, and then hopefully the posters who have had anxiety over all of it can breathe a little easier. It's skating, everyone is doing their parts (even the ones who are flaunting themselves on IG more than others), and yes, they are excited to compete. And everyone here should be excited too.

Oh, skating Twitter has gone nuts over the fact that Nikolaj Majorov and Alexei Yagudin met up with each other and HUGGED while maskless.

Why? Because Alexei is part of Level 3, which means he should only have sporadic contact with Level 2 (officials, judges, etc) and Majorov is Level 1 (skaters, coaches). This was before Majorov entered the quarantine bubble. But, and here is where it becomes clear what the skating Twitter mafia's true motives are... Majorov is in Hanyu's practice group, so he is endangering Hanyu!!!!

Skating Twitter is cray-cray.

 

[mjb52]

Is there to be artificial crowd noise at this event?

-BB

They will be piping in the sounds of #ttw cheering for Leonova's gala performance from the 2019 Panin Memorial. I hope the skaters have their earplugs ready!!!

 

[tony]

Is there to be artificial crowd noise at this event?

-BB

Bring the paddles baby. Maybe the ISU can do the fan screen like in tennis and at US Nats and you can take part!

 

[greenapple]

Is Orser going to Stockholm?

Yes, both he and Tracy Wilson are in Stockholm.

 

[4rkidz]

I received my second Moderna jab at a Walmart in Homosassa, Florida, a very "Trumpian" area. 90% of the shoppers were not wearing masks, despite the store requirement to do so. I am annoyed and outraged at arrogant ignorance, whether it's displayed by Americans, Russians or martians.

My parents used to spend winters there as Canadian snowbirds when my dad was alive, there were pockets of socialists like them. I visted often , love kayaking in the hot springs & with the manatee, but I totally understand your comment as i met so many racist hicks in the crab bar there. I will be passing through next year during the Olympics.

 

[sjs5572]

My parents used to spend winters there as Canadian snowbirds when my dad was alive, there were pockets of socialists like them. I visted often , love kayaking in the hot springs & with the manatee, but I totally understand your comment as i met so many racist hicks in the crab bar there. I will be passing through next year during the Olympics.

 

[sjs5572]

Deleted

 

[mjb52]

The Japanese skaters passed their PCR tests: https://translate.google.com/transl...2021/03/22/kiji/20210322s00079000511000c.html

 

[tony]

Cain-Gribble got the inevitable ‘are they doing enough? Do you feel safe?’ question on her IG story and she replied to it saying that she thinks they have done an amazing job with everything/to keep people distanced and that it feels very safe.

 

[Rukia]

Donovan Carrillo posted an Insta story from high in the arena of the ice sheet, so I'm presuming everything went well with him also. Excited for him!

 

[zebraswan]

Slavik Hayrapetyan had to withdraw due to a positive test just before he was supposed to fly to Stockholm. Glad they caught it before he left.

Instagram

www.instagram.com

 

[Sonata]

A PCR test potentially positive for 3 months even if you’re no longer contagious. Is there any protocol for this? Eg Russian team members who got covid may test positive for a few months even though they are no longer contagious. I suppose they must get negative test before boarding, but if worlds were just one month earlier, potentially lots of Russian team members would test positive and this would have affected who they could send to worlds. (Not meaning to pick on the Russians, I’m just unaware of any other skaters who got covid recently who is going to worlds.)

 

[taz'smum]

There has been a positive test at worlds but so far the identity has not been released

 

[tony]

ISU Statement - International Skating Union

The health and safety of all participants of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2021 remains the number one priority for the International Skating Union (ISU) and the Organizing Committee (OC).

isu.org

And @Sonata - please note here that all skaters have had to undergo several PCR tests.

I understand the ISU wants to not attract a ton of attention to the positive person (I can only imagine what some people will have to say) but it's going to be obvious based on the roster changes, anyways. However, it doesn't say anything about the person actually being a skater so it could've always been a coach.

 

[Sylvia]

From the Health Regulations for Event Participants document (page 12):

The Organizer and the ISU will have a common communication strategy for the situation of a
positive Covid-19 case. Discretion and respect of the privacy of the respective person(s) is a
priority as well as informing the remaining Event Participants internally of the situation.

If an asymptomatic person, who has had a COVID-19 infection in the past, has a positive Covid19 test result:
 The respective person will be isolated and the ISU Medical Advisor and OC Covid-19 team
will be informed, and further testing and analysis will be performed including the ISU Protocol
for “Positive PCR COVID-19 test in an asymptomatic person who has had a COVID-19
infection in the past” will apply. The Protocol will be available onsite.

 

[allezfred]

After zero positive tests at speed skating and short track worlds, this is very disappointing.

 

[Wyliefan]

Well, the ISU announced that the person won't compete, so they won't be able to keep it private for very long.

 

[tony]

Well, the ISU announced that the person won't compete, so they won't be able to keep it private for very long.

It doesn't say anything about competing, though (in the above announcement). It may very well be a non-competitor.

 

[Colonel Green]

We just had several withdrawals without explanation, so it could be any one of them.

 

[Wyliefan]

That's true. Not allowed to "participate," they said. My mistake.

 

[VGThuy]

I hope this isn't a situation that gets worse.

 

[Coco]

After zero positive tests at speed skating and short track worlds, this is very disappointing.

But this is a positive test on the way into the bubble, pre-bubble, if you will, right? If so, it's not a reflection of how the bubble is working.

 

[rfisher]

What the announcement says: The protocol as set out in the ISU Health Regulations for Event participants is being followed namely:·the respective person will not be allowed to participate at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2021·the respective person has been quarantined and all the required measures have been followed·Close contact persons were identified and isolated for further checks and appropriate measures were taken·OC Medical Team/ISU Medical Advisor assessed the situation and followed the ISU Health Regulations for Event Participants in harmony with the Swedish public health guidelines

 

[allezfred]

But this is a positive test on the way into the bubble, pre-bubble, if you will, right? If so, it's not a reflection of how the bubble is working.

If they have close contacts, this sounds to me like they were free range within the bubble.....

 

[taz'smum]

If they have close contacts, this sounds to me like they were free range within the bubble.....

Not necessarily, it could mean close contacts on the way from the airport/ at the testing on arrival.
T/J have only had 1 test arrival so far, so unlikely to be someone who was already mixing in the bubble.