ISU to evaluate feasibility of 2020-21 skating season

[Frau Muller]

....
i also saw somewhere that an airline won’t allow anti-vaxxers to fly if they won’t get the vaccine. How and should we be enforcing this behaviour? Will we start carrying health cards? I’m all for getting the vaccine myself but it’s also strange times to be upfront about your medical history. Will people who had it in the past be denied boarding?

Not just the airlines. In the US (if not elsewhere), a system is in development whereby entry into stadiums, theatres & other venues will require vaccination. No vaccine, no ticket...no ticket, no entry. Names must show up on a national database of vaccine recipients. (Source: news article from a week ago on the Ticketmaster-IBM system under development and testing)

 

[euterpe]

Everything has come to a screeching halt for EVERYONE, not just for young people. I know---I am well over 75 and live by myself, though my son lives nearby. Over the years, I have enjoyed socializing and visiting relatives, but now I am confined to my home 24/7. I will spend the 2020 holiday season by myself, and who knows if I will still be around when normal holidays are again possible. I haven't seen my daughters and grandchildren for over a year now, and who knows if I will ever see them again.

Young people may have had their social lives and education on hold temporarily, but they have plenty of time in the future to resume normal activities. And as for making young people a priority for vaccination, who is to say that young people will even WANT to be vaccinated? So many of the young in my area now don't even wear masks when in stores or restaurants. If not all of them are vaccinated, and they freely socialize without restrictions, the unvaccinated still pose a deadly risk to the vulnerable population.

 

[MsZem]

Everything has come to a screeching halt for EVERYONE, not just for young people.

The article - which I'm posting here for everyone's convenience - indicates that in terms of mental health, young people are disproportionately affected. There are links to actual studies on the subject. If you want to argue with the methodology, go ahead. But the numbers are concerning to say the least.

And as for making young people a priority for vaccination, who is to say that young people will even WANT to be vaccinated?

This is true for everyone. Do residents of retirement homes want to be vaccinated? Do frontline medical personnel? The nurse who gave me my flu shot last week seemed less than enthused about being first in line to try a new vaccine.

But I'll leave the decisions to health officials and bioethicists.

 

[manhn]

I'll go first in line, even though I know I will be one of the last. I would most certainly expect countries and airlines and hotels to require proof of vaccination. We already visit countries where certain vaccinations are required. Why not this? That said, not looking forward to updating my Nexus Card and Passport.

 

[MsZem]

I'll go first in line, even though I know I will be one of the last. I would most certainly expect countries and airlines and hotels to require proof of vaccination.

That does raise the question of what they'll do during the transitional period, when vaccines will start becoming available but won't be easily obtainable yet. Even the more optimistic predictions call for late spring in the US, and other countries may not get vaccines as quickly.

I know it's likely not the most important thing to you at the moment, but I hope there will be some nice marathon trips in your (medium term?) future

 

[Miezekatze]

I'd say during the transition period there can be a combination of rules, like vaccinated people can travel without further restrictions, others would for example need a negative test and/or some days of quarantining like it's already the case.

I don't expect far distance travel without restrictions during the transition phase anyway.

 

[Vagabond]

I would rather see young people who are not at high risk quarantined if they do not comply with guidelines than see the elderly passed over in favor of those very same young people.

 

[Dobre]

I am good with my parents getting vaccinated before me. I worry much more about them, and that has been much more stressful during this pandemic than anything else. I will probably feel less "restricted" myself when I feel they are more protected, even though I don't expect to have the vaccine until later. My sister will get vaccinated first because she is a doctor and by vaccinating healthcare workers we can be certain that more people who need help have the doctors they need to help them. Then--as far as I can tell--the consensus seems to be that the high-risk population will be next. And then essential workers. (I don't think it is clear where teachers & school kids fall yet, but as long as teachers are being told they have to go into work, I would assume they fall in the essential worker category).

As far as the young people being more active thing, if they are more active because they are essential workers then they will probably be prioritized over some of the population. It's simply not worth arguing about to me. If the people most at risk in our society will be safe, that is going to have a huge impact on health care systems. And as we have all seen, when the health care system is safe then it improves quality of life for everyone in the meantime while we try to get everyone else vaccinated.

 

[Vash01]

I'd say during the transition period there can be a combination of rules, like vaccinated people can travel without further restrictions, others would for example need a negative test and/or some days of quarantining like it's already the case.

I don't expect far distance travel without restrictions during the transition phase anyway.

I think international travel already has some restrictions involving testing (but not vaccine yet, of course).

 

[MacMadame]

I'd like to propose that any post containing the phrase 'herd immunity' be confined to the Worldwide Health Forum pretty please : https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/forums/the-worldwide-health-forum.408/

I'd like to propose that it be one of the forbidden phrases like pandemic and virus.


Anyway, I was thinking about the Cup of Russia this weekend and all the bad and no mask-wearing by (often elderly) coaches and athletes. It's true that Russia "has a vaccine" in the sense that they are giving the vaccine to people even though it hasn't been through Stage 3 testing. I was thinking that, because they prize athletics and figuring skating, that maybe all these coaches had all been given the vaccine already and were just wearing masks because it was "the rule" hence not being particularly careful about it.

The problem I see is that there is so much misinformation out there and many aspects of this disease have become politicalized to the point I don't think it's possible for many people to make "informed" decisions. When people do things like not wear a mask and then deliberately cough on people in public, we have moved past that and all bets are off. Likewise, when people say "young people will be fine" they are forgetting about the long-haulers. I predict that at least one elite figure skater will catch C19, become a long-hauler, and will end up having to retire and miss the 2022 Olympics. And they will be saying "if only I had known" because of it.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Looks like from what I’m reading today Qantas Airlines and its CEO says all major airlines will come together and require proof of vaccination to travel international.

Looks like anti-VAXers will be grounded.

 

[Dobre]

Looks like from what I’m reading today Qantas Airlines and its CEO says all major airlines will come together and require proof of vaccination to travel international.

I think that is incredibly smart. Would probably make Mom & I a lot more comfortable about flying to our next skating event.

 

[Meoima]

Everything has come to a screeching halt for EVERYONE, not just for young people. I know---I am well over 75 and live by myself, though my son lives nearby. Over the years, I have enjoyed socializing and visiting relatives, but now I am confined to my home 24/7. I will spend the 2020 holiday season by myself, and who knows if I will still be around when normal holidays are again possible. I haven't seen my daughters and grandchildren for over a year now, and who knows if I will ever see them again.

Young people may have had their social lives and education on hold temporarily, but they have plenty of time in the future to resume normal activities. And as for making young people a priority for vaccination, who is to say that young people will even WANT to be vaccinated? So many of the young in my area now don't even wear masks when in stores or restaurants. If not all of them are vaccinated, and they freely socialize without restrictions, the unvaccinated still pose a deadly risk to the vulnerable population.

I have my mom, aunts, and uncles who are very old and I am always in close contact with them. Keeping myself healthy means keeping my family healthy. We are Southeast Asians, traditionally we live close to most of the family members. If getting vaccine means helping my family and vulnerable people in our society, then we must do it. I can not relate to any young people who lack respect and consideration when it comes to the health of the elderly.

 

[Frau Muller]

....all major airlines will come together and require....

Looks like anti-VAXers will be grounded.

Great! And theatres/sports venues too. Theatre ticket check-in staff and ushers will be like TSA agents at airports! We might all eventually need national identity cards to make this all work.

If I buy, say, four tickets to a ballet, I’ll probably have to list all names in our group (and identity #?).

 

[Sabine-Yuna]

Everything I am reading here sounds like coming from a science fiction novel. It seems that the world is going crazy.

 

[AxelAnnie]

Looks like from what I’m reading today Qantas Airlines and its CEO says all major airlines will come together and require proof of vaccination to travel international.

Looks like anti-VAXers will be grounded.

How soon after the second dose, is the vaccine doing its job? And do we assume that that is the date from which Qantas will use?

 

[overedge]

How soon after the second dose, is the vaccine doing its job? And do we assume that that is the date from which Qantas will use?

We won't know any of that until the vaccine is actually being administered, and what the results are.

 

[mjb52]

Great! And theatres/sports venues too. Theatre ticket check-in staff and ushers will be like TSA agents at airports! We might all eventually need national identity cards to make this all work.

If I buy, say, four tickets to a ballet, I’ll probably have to list all names in our group (and identity #?).

Sounds great!!! That has never been a bad idea historically at all!!!!! I can't wait!!!

 

[Brenda_Bottems]

I approve of the national identity cards if and only if smoking is again permitted in aircraft, theatres, and sporting events. Otherwise I will not participate.

-BB

 

[olympic]

WaPo Article - https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/11/17/*********-vaccines-what-you-need-to-know/

In a nutshell - Likely release of the vaccine in December and possibly 20 - 22.5 million vaccinated by year's end. Those vaccinated first will be medical workers, first responders (police, fire, EMT), and front line workers such as teachers and food handlers. I assume government workers and military are also first in the mix.

Also IDK if these are 1st in line alongside or right behind the above-mentioned groups, but seniors and those with pre-existing conditions will be vaccinated early on.

Young, healthy people and children will be last with vaccinations starting in April possibly. Perhaps Worlds could he held in May ....

I myself am a veteran and I got a newsletter that said we are prioritized but I don't know exactly what that meant in relation to first responders, etc. The VA is part of the federal government, so when it comes, it will be distributed quickly

 

[Sylvia]

@olympic, your Nov. 17th Washington Post article URL has a "banned word" - I've created a tinyurl link and reposted it in the vaccines thread in the Worldwide Health forum: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...hy-treatments-etc.107156/page-14#post-5905087

 

[Frau Muller]

Sounds great!!! That has never been a bad idea historically at all!!!!! I can't wait!!!

Unfortunately, we may have to accept this sort of thing moving forward. It’s part of new socialism and government control for the good of society. Hey, if a database of information about us allows theatres to reopen and makes us safer, I’m all for it. It’s not as if Big Brother doesn’t know everything about each of us now.

 

[Sylvia]

ISU CALENDAR OF EVENTS (competitions still listed as of Nov. 23, 2020): https://www.isu.org/figure-skating/events/figure-skating-calendar

*NEWLY CANCELLED Edusport Trophy, Jan 13 - Jan 17, 2021 Bucharest /ROU (note: Bavarian Open, Jan 25 - Jan 31, 2021 Oberstdorf /GER had been canceled prior to my last update)

This week:
NRW Autumn Trophy, Nov 26 - Nov 29, 2020 Dortmund /GER
Santa Claus Cup, Nov 26 - Nov 29, 2020 Budapest /HUN
ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating - NHK Trophy, Nov 27 - Nov 29, 2020 Osaka /JPN

POSTPONED 53rd Golden Spin of Zagreb, Dec 02 - Dec 05, 2020 Zagreb /CRO
British Inclusive Skating Virtual International Championships, Dec 05 - Dec 19, 2020
POSTPONED ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, Dec 10 - Dec 13, 2020 Beijing /CHN [change of location being considered but event could also be cancelled]
POSTPONED Latvian Trophy 2020 Dec 11 - Dec 13, 2020 Marupe /LAT
Winter Star 2020, Dec 11 - Dec 13, 2020 Minsk /BLR
POSTPONED Sarajevo Open 2020, Dec 18 - Dec 20, 2020 Sarajevo /BIH

Mentor Torun Cup, Jan 05 - Jan 10, 2021 Torún /POL
14th Europa Cup Skate Helena, Jan 12 - Jan 16, 2021 Belgrade /SRB
ISU European Figure Skating Championships, Jan 25 - Jan 31, 2021 Zagreb /CRO
Reykjavik International Games, Jan 29 - Jan 31, 2021 Reykjavik /ISL

Egna Dance Trophy, Feb 02 - Feb 07, 2021 Egna /IT
Sofia Trophy, Feb 02 - Feb 07, 2021 Sofia /BUL
Nordics & Nordic Open 2021, Feb 03 - Feb 07, 2021 Copenhagen /DEN
Dragon Trophy & Tivoli Cup, Feb 04 - Feb 07, 2021 Ljubljana /SLO
LuMi Dance Trophy (memory of L. Mikhailovskaya), Feb 10 - Feb 13, 2021 Odessa /UKR
Jegvirag Cup, Feb 12 - Feb 14, 2021 Miskolc /HUN
Open Ice Mall Cup, Feb 17 - Feb 20, 2021 Eilat /ISR
Tallink Hotels Cup, Feb 18 - Feb 21, 2021 Tallinn /EST
Bellu Memorial, Feb 25 - Feb 28, 2021 Bucharest /ROU
Challenge Cup, Feb 25 - Feb 28, 2021 Den Haag /NED

ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships, Mar 01 - Mar 07, 2021 Harbin /CHN (eta: CANCELLED 11/24/20)
13th Tirnavia Ice Cup, (new dates) Mar 11 - Mar 14, 2021 Trnava /SVK
Coupe de Printemps, Mar 12 - Mar 14, 2021 Kockelscheuer /LUX
Skate Celje, (new dates) Mar 18 - Mar 21, 2021 Celje /SLO
ISU World Figure Skating Championships, Mar 22 - Mar 28, 2021 Stockholm /SWE
Abu Dhabi Classic Trophy, Mar 26 - Mar 27, 2021 Abu Dhabi /UAE
Egna Spring Trophy, Mar 26 - Mar 28, 2021 Egna /ITA

Spring Talents Cup Ukraine, Apr 01 - Apr 03, 2021 Brovary /UKR
Black Sea Ice Cup, Apr 07 - Apr 11, 2021 Kranevo /BUL
Triglav Trophy & Narcisa Cup, Apr 07 - Apr 11, 2021 Jesenice /SLO
Ice Cup, Apr 09 - Apr 11, 2021 Minsk /BLR
World Team Trophy, Apr 15 - Apr 18, 2021 Osaka /JPN
Kurbada Cup, Apr 17 - Apr 18, 2021 Riga /LAT

ISU International Adult Competition, May 09 - May 15, 2021 Oberstdorf /GER
Uzbekistan Open Figure Skating Competition, May 14 - May 16, 2021 Tashkent /UZB

 

[Lemonade20]

Everything I am reading here sounds like coming from a science fiction novel. It seems that the world is going crazy.

Exactly. It becomes a lot more confusing. What if someone can’t go to the show? Their tickets are tied to them, so how can someone else go in place? I like the idea of asking people to please get the vaccine, but enforcing it is a whole other thing

 

[MsZem]

Young, healthy people and children will be last with vaccinations starting in April possibly. Perhaps Worlds could he held in May ....

I don't think every country will be on the same schedule as the US, though, given existing agreements and vaccine availability. And the three vaccines whose stage 3 results have been announced all require two doses, a few weeks apart. But it is possible that once enough people in the population are vaccinated, it will be safer for everyone; that's herd immunity, of course.

I believe children and younger teens are lower on the list because there aren't yet results on the effect of the vaccines for those age groups.

 

[Dobre]

What if someone can’t go to the show?

Then at least everyone else could go to the show. 99.9 times better than the current scenario in which there is no show.

(I'm not sure why anyone is leaping to the conclusion that safety protocols in airports--where there are already strict ID-related safety protocols--mean the same safety protocols at performance arts events. But the performance art world has suffered more than the airline industry so whatever safety protocols that performing arts venues feel will help bring viewers safely together, I support).

 

[Frau Muller]

Then at least everyone else could go to the show. 99.9 times better than the current scenario in which there is no show.

(I'm not sure why anyone is leaping to the conclusion that safety protocols in airports--where there are already strict ID-related safety protocols--mean the same safety protocols at performance arts events. But the performance art world has suffered more than the airline industry so whatever safety protocols that performing arts venues feel will help bring viewers safely together, I support).

Exactly. According to the proposed Ticketmaster-IBM protocol, the identity of the bearer of the ticket at the point of entry into a theatre/venue will be checked...each usher will have a device to scan the entering-audience member’s ticket and ID card or passport. Or, as my hubby says, an “Easy Pass” for entry into public venues.

 

[Miezekatze]

I'm not sure why people think that stuff so "science fiction".

It's not even new that some countries will require certain vaccinations on entry. That has happened in the past. With a global pandemic I really can't see countries like Australia or New Zealand letting in tourists from Europe or the US without harsh restrictions as long as the pandemic is not under control everywhere. It's not as if they let people in at the moment. Vaccinations might ease restrictions for some people.

I'm sure in 2021 (and maybe into 2022) far distance travel and big events will stay very limited and very complicated regardless of vaccination rules.
I'd say anything that helps things happen AT ALL will already be an improvement, if the alternative is nothing taking place at all or without any audience whatsoever.

As for tickets, in the past years there have been personalized tickets for some events I attended even without any pandemic as a reason.
For example for some concerts of very popular musicians you had a personalized ticket that couldn't easily be resold or handed over to anyone else, where the identity of the buyer was printed on the ticket and was checked on entry (mostly this is done to get black market sales under control). There's technical solutions to reselling those tickets anyway, like you have the ticket only virtually in your ticket system until shortly before the event and then you can sell the ticket virtually and officially within the ticket system to another entitled person and it's than transferred within that ticket system to the new owner. Ticketmaster can do that and a German ticket sytsem too. Also works for transferring tickets to friends/family.

 

[clairecloutier]

IFS magazine is reporting on Twitter that 2021 Junior Worlds has been canceled.

Update on ISU Event Calendar season 2020/21 - International Skating Union

The ISU Council reviewed the status of the ongoing skating season 2020/21 considering the worsening world-wide pandemic developments and its impact on organizing and participating ISU Members.

isu.org

 

[Colonel Green]

I’m expecting the axe to fall on Euros soon.