NYTimes Artcle: Go Kazakhstan! Go Japan! It Doesn’t Matter to Flag-Waving Skating Fans. By MOTOKO R

[smurfy]

Nice article. And as someone that has gone to multiple Worlds/Skate Americas - accurate.
I have sat by people that have a bag filled with flags.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/22/...column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

 

[BlueRidge]

I love this about figure skating!

 

[Vagabond]

I have found all of the camera shots of South Korean (and, apparently, Japanese) fans waving flags for other countries' competitors' to be the most endearing part of the figure skating stream.

 

[MacMadame]

I love this about figure skating!

I do too!

 

[zigzig]

Japanese fans are the best - if only all spectators could take a cue from them.

 

[kalamalka]

One of the fun things at last year's 4CC in the Olympic venue was that they had a table set up with flags of various countries that one could borrow for an event. Of course they didn't have nearly enough especially of the more popular countries to go around, but I did manage to snag an Uzbekistan one to wave for Misha Ge for the men's free skate. They had some larger and some smaller flags, and also some people to do flag face painting. I thought it was a great addition to the event. (OTOH, they didn't have any event souvenir merchandise - just one shop with Olympics stuff - very hard to get through the lineup and there wasn't much of a selection anyway. Too bad because the logo and the colours were great).

 

[sk9tingfan]

I've been to Grand Prix and Worlds in the US. Japan and Canada. The audiences generally recognize excellence when they see it and they are fairly and universally supportive of skaters regardless of their country of origin. There were complaints in Sochi about the Russians attending either not applauding or providing rather tepid responses unless the skaters hailed from Russia.

 

[overedge]

I think that some of those people with multiple countries' flags are more concerned about getting themselves on the Jumbotron or on TV/live streaming than about actually supporting the skaters.

 

[SamuraiK]

If I ever go to a major skating comp I would take my bag filled with flags too.

 

[paskatefan]

I always bring the flags I have of the competing countries, and wave them as appropriate. No doubt the skaters appreciate seeing them, especially if they can see you from the stands. Ditto at the end of their practice sessions. We've had some experiences @ various Skate America competitions where I've waved a small Japanese flag for the Japanese competitors (I was able to buy the flag @ 2003 Worlds in Washington, DC), and some Japanese fans came over to us & thanked us for supporting their countrymen/women.

@ 2005 Skate America in Atlantic City, NJ, I waved my Canadian flag for Kurt Browning during a Zamboni break. Kurt was doing commentary for ABC back then. He saw the flag, and waved back to me. A few hours later, we got to meet Kurt up close & personal for the first time. He recognized me as the "Canadian" who waved the flag for him. I fooled him into thinking we were Canadians (I did tell him we were Americans, but really like many of the Canadian skaters). A few years later, I did the same for Jeff Buttle @ one of Mike Weiss' foundation shows. I overheard him say, "Oo, Canadians" as he approached us after the show.

I've also brought the flags I have to SOI (back in the day when the US tour had an international cast). Since our seats were pretty close to the ice, the international skaters gave us lots of smiles & thumbs up when they saw the flags.

My point is, if you have the flags, bring them, wave them! I have no doubt that the skaters appreciate the support!

 

[Meoima]

I have no flags with me but I did try my best to clap to all skaters.

 

[Frau Muller]

Nice article. And as someone that has gone to multiple Worlds/Skate Americas - accurate.
I have sat by people that have a bag filled with flags.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/22/...column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news

Me too! There’s a famous (infamous?) Canadian fan - large-ish woman with short-cropped brown hair - who takes a large canvas bag with all flags lined up by alphabetical order, ready to pull out and wave. Maybe she is mentioned in the article?

 

[paskatefan]

^ Does she have a red hat? I remember seeing a woman with a red hat @ 2016 Worlds in Boston & @ Skate America in Lake Placid this past November. She was there for many of the practice sessions, and waited afterwards to take pictures of the skaters & get their autographs. She may have had a skate for them to autograph as well.

 

[el henry]

@paskatefan, I thought of you when I read this article. I bet you were the only person at Liberty last summer with an Israeli flag, and I was impressed

 

[allezfred]

I think that some of those people with multiple countries' flags are more concerned about getting themselves on the Jumbotron or on TV/live streaming than about actually supporting the skaters.

Can only speak from what I know of Japanese fans, but that is way off the mark.

 

[Frau Muller]

^ Does she have a red hat? I remember seeing a woman with a red hat @ 2016 Worlds in Boston & @ Skate America in Lake Placid this past November. She was there for many of the practice sessions, and waited afterwards to take pictures of the skaters & get their autographs. She may have had a skate for them to autograph as well.

Must be another one. The lady I’m thinking about doesn’t wear a hat but always wears the same Canada sweater - mostly white, with red accents (maple leafs and “Canada” lettering). She’s very nice. Affiliated with a tour group?

 

[smurfy]

I think that some of those people with multiple countries' flags are more concerned about getting themselves on the Jumbotron or on TV/live streaming than about actually supporting the skaters.

Probably the minority.
At Skate America in Atlantic City - I had a aisle seat, and the seat next to me was empty. The next 2 seats were 2 american ladies with an large american flag. They watched the jumbotron all the time during the skating and when we were in the background - they would shake the flag and rock the whole row. I ended up moving back a row, as I did not care about being on tv, and the rocking/shaking was really annoying.
It was so odd - I do not think they looked at the skaters much while on the ice.

One of the things about skating - I always have some favs, from all countries, and then when they retire, I feel sad for a moment, but then a younger person makes me a fan. Always someone new on the horizon.

 

[Taso]

I brought flags to 2005 worlds! And I accidentally grabbed the Ukrainian flag upside down for Volosozhar & Morozov and a Russian guard tried to tell me something and I had no idea what he said....and then saw what was going on...