Olympic Events: Held Mid-Day?

[allezfred]

I guess the “midday” start is why Virtue/Moir have ditched the cunniliftus matinee.

 

[Ohyes]

I guess the “midday” start is why Virtue/Moir have ditched the cunniliftus matinee.

More innovative and risky than any lift P/C have done

 

[VGThuy]

One skater semi-comment about the schedule, on Mirai's IG story, she said the schedule where she has to head out to practice at 5:30 in the morning was not going to be easy for her.

 

[Sylvia]

USA Today article: Early wake up call, start time impacts men in Olympic team competition

The first major Olympic event was nearly empty because of the American time zone demands:
http://www.businessinsider.com/winter-olympics-figure-skating-arena-empty-nbc-time-zone-2018-2

 

[Anyasnake]

Just wanted to say that I woke up to watch the event at 2 a.m. Unitil 5.30 a.m. My head hurts (and if someone tells me "well don't watch it then", I'll hit you).
And that on her instagram, Mirai is having a bit of a hard time with the schedule.
And that if the Men's event is anything like this morning, I'll be happy to blame it on time.

 

[skatingguy]

USA Today article: Early wake up call, start time impacts men in Olympic team competition

The first major Olympic event was nearly empty because of the American time zone demands:
http://www.businessinsider.com/winter-olympics-figure-skating-arena-empty-nbc-time-zone-2018-2

Also could have mentioned that ticket sales have been sluggish so far, or that this event was happening before the Opening Ceremony, so there are other reasons other than starting time for the stands to be empty - but why let the facts get in the way of a good story.

 

[allezfred]

Also could have mentioned that ticket sales have been sluggish so far

Maybe ticket sales are sluggish because people don't want to/can't take time off on a weekday morning.

 

[skatingguy]

Maybe ticket sales are sluggish because people don't want to/can't take time off on a weekday morning.

Maybe, but I think there's more to the story than just the time of day.

 

[chapis]

USA Today article: Early wake up call, start time impacts men in Olympic team competition

Message to the casual fan: Yes, sure!!, the problem was the schedule. Men never skate like that in the other competitions . Let's hope they believe us

 

[Vagabond]

All this talk about clean Olympic Athletes from Russia, and then Kolyada does not skate clean....

 

[Skittl1321]

One skater semi-comment about the schedule, on Mirai's IG story, she said the schedule where she has to head out to practice at 5:30 in the morning was not going to be easy for her.

Did she say what time the practice is?

 

[VGThuy]

Did she say what time the practice is?

No.

In Phil Hersh's Nathan Chen SP retrospective, there are quotes from Chen, Uno, and Chan about the early start times. I hope NBC takes note for Beijing though I doubt they will.

 

[Skittl1321]

No.

In Phil Hersh's Nathan Chen SP retrospective, there are quotes from Chen, Uno, and Chan about the early start times. I hope NBC takes note for Beijing though I doubt they will.

NBC's only note will be what the ratings were.

 

[allezfred]

I think this tweet says it all about the early start:

https://twitter.com/figure_tsukune/status/961799641942573056

 

[Vagabond]

I think this tweet says it all about the early start:

https://twitter.com/figure_tsukune/status/961799641942573056

Maybe he was yawning because the Team Event is so boring.

 

[TalentedButHumble]

Silly thought: If morning competitions were so challenging, could the NA skaters, for example, have somehow, partially kept their body clocks on NA time?

On one hand, as NotAMorningPerson, I'm sympathetic to the skaters. (And I at NBC, which finally attempts to show things live from another continent - but their solution is to force the IOC to alter schedules.)

And I know the Olympics isn't just any old day at work. But *lots* of people have to work "odd" hours. (In the US, hospital staff might perform a surgery at 7 a.m. Or teachers face a roomful of awful teenagers at 7:30 a.m. )

Today I watched a morning symphony concert. The musicians had a concert last night. Some maybe had long drives home & then back, to be onstage warmed up at 10:30 a.m. There was no announcement: "Sorry, we can't do the Ravel very good this morning. We usually play at 8 p.m."

 

[Skittl1321]

Agreed, @TalentedButHumble
I'm not saying it doesn't suck- but I just don't think it is as unprecedented as people make it out to be.

A super quick google search of "grand prix skater bus" I found a blog entry where an ice dancer talked about 7 am practices for a 9:30 a.m. competition. Getting on a 5:30 a.m. bus; and we all know ice dancers go to practices tiffed!
https://www.ice-dance.com/site/2008-skate-canada-jennifer-westers-competitor-blog/

It has not been hard at all to find examples of competitions that start at 10 a.m.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

For anyone with access to NBC Olympics, their live streaming Men's and Ice Dance practice right now: http://stream.nbcolympics.com/figure-skating-training-men-dance-feb-9

 

[Anyasnake]

For all the people saying : "they should know what it's like to train at 6 or 7 a.m."...
It is not that. When you have practice at 6 a.m. you can wake up at 5 or even a little later. Official practice before the competition = outfits, make-up, warming-up. On instagram, Kana Muramoto posted a clip of her at 3.40 a.m. (=15 minutes ago in Korea) for SD practice before the competition. That is not normal, even if you sleep very early because these are not the normal hours for your body.

 

[chapis]

And weird to see to Madison Chock posting on instagram at 2am, maybe still jet lag

 

[Anyasnake]

And weird to see to Madison Chock posting on instagram at 2am, maybe still jet lag

The Olympic village isn't the quietest place on earth, especially when the first athletes start to get medals, so 2am is not a suprise, but I hope she can have proper sleep for the days to come :/ It will be crucial.

 

[WildRose]

The skaters I follow on Twitter hate the early start. My view is that you want conditions at the Olympics that will encourage great performances - not make it more difficult. NBC may get it’s viewers, but how many will keep watching when it’s a splat fest and how much long term damage does that do to a sport that is already struggling in the US.

 

[chapis]

The Olympic village isn't the quietest place on earth, especially when the first athletes start to get medals, so 2am is not a suprise, but I hope she can have proper sleep for the days to come :/ It will be crucial.

Really? mmm, well, I guess we can´t blame to nbc about it.

 

[el henry]

Blaming the men's splatfest on the "early" hour? Yeah, right,

A whole heck of a lot else contributed to that baby, which I hope the ISU takes note of, but I don't care if the men's FS in Beijing, or Korea, or Fiji, take place at 5 a.m. It's the flipping *Olympics*, ditch the excuses and get a grip.

And the Knierims and Bradie are NOT p!ssing and moaning about it, so kudos to them

 

[Anyasnake]

Really? mmm, well, I guess we can´t blame to nbc about it.

Yes, it's known for parties and a lot of distractions, but it wouldn't be the greatest issue if they could wake up after 5 a.m at least...

 

[ks777]

What is up with the ice hockey rink? So small(audience seats) and it's weird looking. the capacity is only 6000?? must be the smallest hockey stadium ever.