2011 World Championships – Our Thoughts
Ice-dance.com staff’s thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan as they mourn those that are lost and begin to rebuild after this tragedy.
Eight days ago, figure skaters around the world already had Japan on their minds as the countdown to the season’s culmination continued. The 2011 World Championships were scheduled to be held from March 21-28 in Tokyo. All were looking forward to competing in Japan, one of the most skating-friendly countries in the world.
On March 11, everything had changed. The world watched in horror as Japan was hit by a trifecta of catastrophes: a 9.0 earthquake in northeast Japan, the subsequent 33-foot-high tsunami it created, and the nuclear threat caused by damage to Fukushima I and II nuclear power plants. It is estimated that the death toll will be in the tens of thousands.
In the uncertain days that followed, the skating world was stunned. Some athletes had already arrived in Japan to get acclimated to the time zone before official practices began, so Universal Sports and Figure Skating Universe kept track of the skaters, both Japanese and foreign. Sighs of relief were breathed as athletes “checked in” and condolences were offered to those who were personally affected by the tragedy. On Facebook and Twitter, skaters were quick to let Japanese friends and supporters know that their thoughts were with the country.
Since many athletes were scheduled to leave just a week later for the World Championships, the International Skating Union had to act quickly. Articles began to surface; discussions flourished. Everyone had an opinion on whether or not the event should be held at all or canceled completely. Those in favor of the cancellation usually offered the caveat that this would be out of respect for the tragedy. Some Japanese members of the skating family do feel this way, but others want the event to go on. One Japanese fan’s recent post on FSU asked that the event be given a new location.
Each day, additional countries have come forward with offers to host the event within 1-2 months’ time. In the immediate aftermath, Italy and Switzerland were among the first to come forward. Turin, Italy, has an available venue in the 2006 Olympic Games’ Palavela, along with an experienced volunteer base that hosted the World Championships last year. Switzerland’s Lausanne has the benefit of being home to the ISU headquarters; they last hosted Worlds in 1997. In the past week, Sweden (Malmo), the United States (Colorado Springs and Lake Placid), Russia (Moscow), Finland, and Canada have all been under consideration, whether through formal offers or pure speculation.
In a March 16 interview with Phil Hersh of the Chicago Tribune, ISU President Ottavio Cinquanta presented three possible options. The 2011 World Championships could be: 1) cancelled entirely; 2) held in Tokyo in October; or 3) moved to an alternate location and held in late April or May.
While it may be tempting to “save” Worlds for Japan and hold the event later in the year, this would throw a huge kink into the skating season. Athletes depend on the off-season, when they have time to regroup and prepare for a new season. Without that time off, skaters won’t be able to focus on the improvements they want to make for the next year. They won’t be able to devote time for the crafting of new programs if they have to keep their old programs in top form, and most importantly, their bodies will not have time to rest.
All three options do offer benefits as well as obstacles to overcome, outlined well in the response from U.S. champion Alissa Czisny that Hersh posted on March 17. Czisny, along with many Worlds-bound skaters, believes that the best option is to move the event to another country and to hold it this spring. The Ice-Dance.com staff agrees, as it is the best option for the athletes and the skating community.
We are certainly not belittling the tragedy of the disasters in Japan. But will Japan gain anything if the skating community cancels their World Championships? As Czisny stated quite eloquently, people around the world have not halted their businesses in the wake of the disaster. For world-level skaters, competing is a full-time job, with money to earn, bills to pay, and schedules to keep. The World Championships are an “amateur” (Olympic-eligible) competition, but prize money is at stake, and beyond that, placing well at Worlds paves the way for professional opportunities for the athletes so they can continue working in the sport that they love. Coaches, rinks, media outlets, and tours (both professional skating tours, as well as the tours that bring fans to competitions around the world) are all dependent on the way that the ISU schedule works so they can continue to be in the skating business.
In short, the skating community needs to come together and make it work. Of course, it is best to have three years to put together a world championship. But we don’t have three years; we have three weeks, give or take, to create 2011 Make It Work Worlds.
Worlds is traditionally a classy affair with swanky lounges and four-star hotels, but none of that is really necessary. Ask any Worlds-bound athlete what is most important about the competition, and see how many tell you that it’s all about the catering in the athlete lounge. In the interest of properly capping off the season, many of the athletes would probably be willing to stay in cheaper accommodations and give up the logo-emblazoned swag. The countries that have offered an alternate venue know that they can depend on strong volunteer bases to help stage the event, volunteers who will pull long shifts to make sure that things run smoothly and that the athletes are the ones in the spotlight.
Many in the skating community have expressed interest in turning Worlds into a benefit for Japan relief efforts. If sponsors, particularly airlines or a hotel, get on board with this, a hastily-planned Worlds could certainly be a reality. Perhaps some of the prize money or event profits could be donated. The exhibition gala would be a perfect opportunity to raise extra money once the competition is over. Volunteers are willing; hearts are in the right places. As soon as a location is named, plans can begin.
Having a low-glitz Worlds will be respectful to the tragedy’s victims and give teamwork a chance to shine. Holding Worlds this spring shows that together, we can do things — skating may not be life-saving, but it’s sport and it’s art, and it gives hope. It’s something to cheer for when there isn’t a lot of good happening right now in the world, and it’s especially something to cheer for in Japan, a country that is so patriotic and proud of its skaters.
“Skating people” are some of the most generous and dedicated in Olympic sports. We have always considered ourselves a family. Fifty years ago, the World Championships were cancelled in the wake of the plane crash that took the lives of the entire U.S. delegation. That may have been the right decision under the circumstances in 1961, but in 2011, the right decision is for the skating family to band together and carry on. Together, we can have an unforgettable week of sports and try to raise as much money as possible for relief in Japan. Sitting at home with no competition isn’t going to help anyone or honor any victim. Working globally to reach goals, raise money, and give a great skating country a worthy tribute, while giving the Japanese citizens the chance to stand behind their athletes — that is the honorable thing to do.