Keeping alternates healthy and available for the Olympics

[barbk]

Given the rampant spread of the new variant, I'm expecting to see a fair number of skaters sidelined at the Olympics because of positive tests, even if they are asymptomatic.

I wonder what federations are going to do to have alternates close enough by to fill the slots for missing skaters? If a federation does not have a qualified substitute available, does the slot get re-allocated to the next qualifying federation?

I fear this is going to be very messy.

 

[Andrea82]

If a federation does not have a qualified substitute available, does the slot get re-allocated to the next qualifying federation?

ISU Communication No. 2428 says: After this date [24 January 2022], in principle no entries can be transferred from one NOC/ISU Member to another NOC/ISU Member.

 

[tony]

ISU Communication No. 2428 says: After this date [24 January 2022], in principle no entries can be transferred from one NOC/ISU Member to another NOC/ISU Member.

To add to this, I am not sure if the Olympic substitute procedure still holds, but for other Championships, a skater/team from the same nation can be substituted as long as A) they are on the substitutes list to begin with and B) it's before the draw for the first segment. But it gets messy with the team event taking place before the individual events and certain skaters already having competed by the time the individual competition comes around. (I'm sure it's explained somewhere but I quickly bounced around a few documents and didn't really find anything definitive).

 

[Stephanie]

Another issue is that there are very few flights into China to begin with so it could be difficult, if not impossible, to fly someone in, especially last minute. I don't expect alternates to be allowed into China and Japan (where Russia had their training camp pre-2018, for example) is closed to foreigners atm, so I'm not sure if there are any nearby places where alternates can train. IIRC Russia will have a training base set up in I believe Krasnoyarsk, but for everyone else it could be close to impossible.

 

[Karen-W]

Another issue is that there are very few flights into China to begin with so it could be difficult, if not impossible, to fly someone in, especially last minute. I don't expect alternates to be allowed into China and Japan (where Russia had their training camp pre-2018, for example) is closed to foreigners atm, so I'm not sure if there are any nearby places where alternates can train. IIRC Russia will have a training base set up in I believe Krasnoyarsk, but for everyone else it could be close to impossible.

The USA's base last summer for Tokyo was Honolulu since Japan was pretty closed at the time. Not sure what plans are in place for Beijing, though.

 

[Rukia]

The USA's base last summer for Tokyo was Honolulu since Japan was pretty closed at the time. Not sure what plans are in place for Beijing, though.

It varied from sport to sport though really. Swimming went and stayed in Honolulu for a while, while gymnastics flew their alternates to train in Japan until it was past the point of substitution. I know surfing also went to Japan early to stay and train there. I don't know how difficult it would be to get practice ice in China for alternates, but flying them to China would be the best if they can manage it. But I also realize there may be issues with getting them in the country as well.

There is one ice rink in Honolulu though, and they can throw stuff at my in-laws from there which is a bonus for me.

 

[AxelAnnie]

The USA's base last summer for Tokyo was Honolulu since Japan was pretty closed at the time. Not sure what plans are in place for Beijing, though.

I don't think there will be much luck with that strategy. IIRC, the airlines are canceling flights right and left. My sister is in Hawaii (visiting other Sister), and she is not sure how she is going to get back if her flight is cancelled.