What has been so fascinating about the tragedy in Japan is that it has brought out the best and the worst in people. The best because the vast majority of figure skating fans want nothing more than to have the possibility of a World championship be about the skaters and what is best for them.
In the following article on Ice-Dance.com, the writer is able to get to the heart of the matter and make a wonderful case for a scaled down version of Worlds to take place in another city. They understand that there isn’t the normal 3 years to plan something and feel that something could be done. I agree that a month could be long enough to come up with something. See for yourself.
As we all try and figure out what will happen, I continue to be bugged about the fact that there does not seem to be a plan in place. Despite the fact that Monday or Tuesday has been mentioned as being the next date for an ISU update, it seems a little loosey-goosey to me and who’s to say it won’t become Wedenesday or whenever?.
According to a fan with whom i am in contact who goes by the name of Mevrouw on FSU, she said that at first all seemed fine and she was in fact across from Yoyogi Stadium when the Earthquake hit. I have her permission to post the link to her fascinating on the spot account.
the whole scenario has of course all changed in the intervening time, as the nuclear problems developed, but at first, it did seem as if Japan would be able to hold the event. That doesn’t seem to be sensible any longer and certainly not within the time frame that would be appropriate for the skaters. On paper, Worlds in the Fall in Tokyo must make sense to someone – it doesn’t make sense to me.
In my mind, that leaves us with only two real options – cancel the event outright or move it – pronto- somewhere else in the scaled down capacity that the ice-dance.com writer talks about.
It really is time to put the skaters first; give them a definitive answer and let them get on with what they need to do.
If you want to help:
Artistry Canada by Amway is matching donations here.
Then there are these two among many more: