Japan closing borders due to Omicron--GPF canceled

[misskarne]

some Russian MPs and Tarasova just recently said so.
maybe we'll get an official statement from FSR soon

It's not going to happen. Relocating an entire event in what is now less than a week is a logistical nightmare that even all the corruption of the Russian government is unlikely to be able to overcome.

 

[Karen-W]

Seems Russia may host the GPF

How long can they process American and foreign visas ?

I just read a ton of quotes saying they weren't interested in doing that?

some Russian MPs and Tarasova just recently said so.
maybe we'll get an official statement from FSR soon

It's not going to happen. Relocating an entire event in what is now less than a week is a logistical nightmare that even all the corruption of the Russian government is unlikely to be able to overcome.

So, apparently this is coming from Vitaly Milonov, a Russian State Duma Deputy... https://www.instagram.com/p/CXAiyzMIdsE/?utm_medium=copy_link
Not sure how believable it is or if this is just some sort of political posturing but I suppose if anyone is capable of stepping in and making the GPF/JGPF happen next week, it would be Russia. I don't know how you manage to get the visas approved much less the entire event organized in less than a week but who knows?

ETA - found this article (the only one in English) that disputes the idea https://new.fox-24.com/sport/news/5212.html - so I'd say it's not likely.

And here's an article on sport.ru with a quote from the Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin saying that they have not been contacted - https://www.sport.ru/figurnoe_katan...va-provesti-final-gran-pri-po-/article499352/ - definitely not happening if the RFSF and ISU haven't been in touch with the Russian Ministry of Sports.

 

[love_skate2011]

So, apparently this is coming from Vitaly Milonov, a Russian State Duma Deputy... https://www.instagram.com/p/CXAiyzMIdsE/?utm_medium=copy_link
Not sure how believable it is or if this is just some sort of political posturing but I suppose if anyone is capable of stepping in and making the GPF/JGPF happen next week, it would be Russia. I don't know how you manage to get the visas approved much less the entire event organized in less than a week but who knows?

ETA - found this article (the only one in English) that disputes the idea https://new.fox-24.com/sport/news/5212.html - so I'd say it's not likely.

And here's an article on sport.ru with a quote from the Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin saying that they have not been contacted - https://www.sport.ru/figurnoe_katan...va-provesti-final-gran-pri-po-/article499352/ - definitely not happening if the RFSF and ISU haven't been in touch with the Russian Ministry of Sports.

If no statement from RFSR this week, I dont think it will happen.
moving a week after would not be good as Japan and Russian Nationals will be held.

 

[Karen-W]

There was one tiny little stumble. You act like they fell all over the ice

Okay, then, break it down for me, GOE by GOE point, why the element should have received the GOE that it did.

 

[mjb52]

Yo, the thread for ice dance is around the corner. Take the uber matrix promotion of the US chances in the team event over there.

 

[Coco]

And since they’re not, what’s the use in talking about fantasies?

LOL, this is FSU, and sometimes the F stands for fantasy.

 

[screech]

I'm disappointed the GPF is cancelled but not surprised. The events I feel are most effected are ladies and dance. Dance because it would be the last main event to help determine the final flight at the Olympics. And ladies to be one more event to help in determining which Russian ladies get to go to the Olympics alongside Valieva (who is probably the only lock right now, with her SB total score of 272.71 being 40 points higher than the next person, Scherbakova, whose highest total score this season is 236.78).

 

[Flowerz]

Selfishly, I would also like to see the Final take place even if it's at the end of this (Olympic) season. Heck, Russia can host it and offer up another LIVE broadcast on TV1 -- complete w/Ted Barton commentary!

Sure, many who would end up competing in Beijing would likely skip it, but I think it could still be a solid, competitive event. I think all of the junior qualifiers would jump at the chance for the prize money and additional competition experience. Many of the current alternates and at least two of the senior lady Russian qualifiers won't make it to the Olympics and/or Worlds this season, so why not offer them up this opportunity?!?!

I don't know if I would call it selfishness. We're fans of figure skating, of course we want competitions to happen. And it's the ISU who's giving us hope by leaving it open (for now) by saying they "will evaluate a possible postponement to hold the Event at the end of the season and will take a decision as soon as possible." They could just say sorry, we had to cancel and everyone would understand given it's the Japanese government who took the decision which led to the cancellation and the whole Olympic season argument.
I interpret what they're saying to mean they're at least having conversations with countries to see who could host it on an appropriate date. They're not gonna do it a week later than planned in Russia with Russian Nationals knocking at the door. When Cup of China got cancelled there were several countries willing to host, so I imagine they at least have conversations to try and make something happen. If only for the JGPF, they should do their best to make it happen. And if they are working it out for JGPF, I don't think they would leave the GPF out no matter what. Now, they can totally announce sooner than later that it's not going forward, or they could say, we'll host it in Hungary, or we'll host it in Russia, or whatever country they have discussions with and see fit.

 

[Coco]

Is the Orleans available in early April?

 

[VGThuy]

Is the Orleans available in early April?

Will the athletes have enough stamina by the end of the season to take all that smokey air?

 

[Spikefan]

Is the Orleans available in early April?

Curling championships April 2-10. Just leave the ice and have it the following week.

Edit: they have hockey there too and there are home games the next weekend. Orleans is out.

 

[Doggygirl]

I’m so torn on this. On the one hand I think we have to find ways to get as close to normal as possible and sport and entertainment is part of that. On the other some of the skaters slated for Japan are too young to be vaccinated by their own country’s protocols and we know that young skaters have gotten long Cooovid and lost significant time in their lives.

My mom died of the crud a year ago today at age 94. It was not an easy death. I would rather not read in this thread political prescriptions about “hysteria” and such.

I'm so very sorry for your loss, and especially saddened to read of her difficult passing. My heart goes out to you and your family.

 

[ostile17]

Good news for the Japanese skaters training abroad!

Skating teams can practice during waiting period after returning to Japan

About Japanese athletes in figure skating and speed skating aiming for the Beijing Winter Olympics in February next year, the government is making adjustments so that they can practice on the condition of thorough behavior management even during the waiting period after returning from overseas.
(Google translation)

スケート勢、帰国後の待機期間も練習可能へ ｜ 共同通信

来年2月の北京冬季五輪を目指すフィギュアスケートとスピードスケートの日本選手に関し、政府が海外から帰...

nordot.app

 

[allezfred]

Because the judges are scoring them as if they were from another planet.

There is no "if" about it. Their skating skills are from another planet compared to the rest of the field.

 

[Carolla5501]

So I had to an unmask Casey Edwards just to see what she/he is posting. Our resident troll is back. Just hysterical I should not put it on ignore just because of the comedy factor


But the truth is the trash gets old pretty quickly so I’ll leave it on ignore

 

[Immortelle]

Looking on the bright side…Japan isn’t going to have its borders closed for as long as it did in the Edo period

 

[mjb52]

Or so we hope...

 

[MsZem]

Looking on the bright side…Japan isn’t going to have its borders closed for as long as it did in the Edo period

Or so we hope...

Maybe they'll only welcome Dutch skaters.

 

[VGThuy]

Looking on the bright side…Japan isn’t going to have its borders closed for as long as it did in the Edo period

Or so we hope...

Maybe they'll only welcome Dutch skaters.

Between the first post and the Sondheim thread, I now have Pacific Overtures stuck in my head.

 

[Jammers]

I though viruses when they mutated get weaker over time but not this one. Almost makes you think this thing wasn't created by mother nature. By the way Japan hosted an Olympics during a pandemic but they can't host one figure skating competition?

 

[Sylvia]

By the way Japan hosted an Olympics during a ********* but they can't host one figure skating competition?

Not the same thing at all. As was posted earlier:

It will all depend if the Japanese Government will let non-Japanese skaters/coaches/officials enter the country.

 

[YukiNieve]

While athletes training overseas to prepare for the Beijing Winter Olympic Games are likely to be able to practice during the quarantine period under strict safety guidance, if any of the passengers in the same airplane that the athletes take to come back to Japan turns out to be C***** positive, all the remaining passengers, regardless of their positivity or vaccination status, have to be quarantined for 14 days at a designated facility or at home. So this becomes a "wish me luck" situation.
Their coaches who are foreign nationals, such as Lambiel or Orser, cannot enter Japan.

オミクロン厳戒措置　高橋大輔、紀平梨花、小平奈緒ら“海外組”直撃も - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

来年2月4日に開幕する北京冬季オリンピック（五輪）を目指し、海外で大会に参加したり練習拠点を置く選手について、新型コロナウイルスの新たな変異株「オミクロン株」… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

www.nikkansports.com

 

[MacMadame]

I though viruses when they mutated get weaker over time but not this one.

Nobody has said that.

 

[once_upon]

I though viruses when they mutated get weaker over time but not this one.

I dont think we know that yet. With the Spanish Flu pan*demic there was not genome sequencing so we don't know how that virus or if it mutated. That pan*demic covered several years so we really don't know how that one progressed

 

[ostile17]

While athletes training overseas to prepare for the Beijing Winter Olympic Games are likely to be able to practice during the quarantine period under strict safety guidance, if any of the passengers in the same airplane that the athletes take to come back to Japan turns out to be C***** positive, all the remaining passengers, regardless of their positivity or vaccination status, have to be quarantined for 14 days at a designated facility or at home. So this becomes a "wish me luck" situation.
Their coaches who are foreign nationals, such as Lambiel or Orser, cannot enter Japan.

オミクロン厳戒措置　高橋大輔、紀平梨花、小平奈緒ら“海外組”直撃も - フィギュア : 日刊スポーツ

来年2月4日に開幕する北京冬季オリンピック（五輪）を目指し、海外で大会に参加したり練習拠点を置く選手について、新型コロナウイルスの新たな変異株「オミクロン株」… - 日刊スポーツ新聞社のニュースサイト、ニッカンスポーツ・コム（nikkansports.com）

www.nikkansports.com

New government measures for Japanese athletes training overseas

The Japan Skating Federation officials said on the 6th, following the government's special measures for Japanese athletes aiming for the Beijing Olympics in February next year as a measure against the new variant of the new coronavirus "Omicron strain". "It will be much stricter measure than before, but we are very grateful as a competition organization for providing the practice environment. "

With the special measures approved this time, after strict behavioral management, athletes can practice activities even during the waiting period of 14 days after returning to Japan. After returning to Japan, PCR tests on athletes are performed every day for 3 days, and during that time only individual practice is possible. After the 4th day, the test will be done once every 2 days, and at that point athletes can practice in a group.

　Should passengers on the return flight be positive for the Omicron strain, all passengers will be close contacts and daily PCR tests will be required for athletes. If the test is negative, the skater/s can only practice individually while avoiding contact with others. In addition, foreign coaches who are treated as re-entry (that is with a multi-entry visa previously obtained) can enter the country.*

* Shoma said that Lambiel has this kind of visa, having recently been to Japan for the NHK Trophy. Most likely Zoueva, Orser, IAM's coaches and others who have been recently at NHK Trophy, will have the same kind of visa so that they can be with their students at Japan Nationals.

帰国後待機期間も練習可能、政府措置に日本スケート連盟「大変感謝している」 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex スポーツ

新型コロナウイルスの新たな変異株「オミクロン株」の水際対策で来年2月の北京五輪を目指す日本人選手らに政府が特例措置を講じることを受け、日本スケート連盟の関係者は6日、「今までよりかなり厳しい措置となるが、練習環境を整えていただいた。競技団体として大変感謝している」と語った。

www.sponichi.co.jp

 

[YukiNieve]

Thanks, ostile17. I came to post it and you beat me to it.
As you mentioned, Shoma says his coach can come.
I really hope that other coaches can come, too.

 

[wickedwitch]

There is no "if" about it. Their skating skills are from another planet compared to the rest of the field.

Just from a skating skill perspective, I actually think H/D are slightly better. But P/C aren;t far behind and are better in almost every other aspect.

 

[TheresMaude]

Is there some doubt about whether the Japan nationals will be held? I was wondering if that was why there’s no thread for it yet under National Championships.

 

[Sylvia]

Is there some doubt about whether the Japan nationals will be held? I was wondering if that was why there’s no thread for it yet under National Championships.

I was going to start one but haven't done so yet.

Singles qualifiers are posted in the Japanese news thread here: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...eason-news-updates.108389/page-6#post-6105269

ETA link to Kiss & Cry forum thread: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...-championships-dec-22-26-2021-saitama.109072/

 

[GarrAargHrumph]

Russia would need to waive visa requirements. If they did that and had a location ready, perhaps didn't allow an audience so they don't need to worry about crowds or ticket sales... even then this would be unlikely, but possible? Maybe.