The rink that will host Worlds, as announced, will be Megasport Arena, a big structure completed in 2006, capable of 14000 seats and with all necessary equipment for athletes. Seats available for the public will be reduced to a maximum of 10000, to assure places for the press box and reserved seats. The ticket prices should be commensurate with European standards, probably in line with prices of Torino 2010. Just came out today on a Russian website a page to purchase tickets (only in Russian): should be out soon an official website.
The Russian government has ensured fast procedures for the granting of visas for athletes, coaches, officials and fans. As the calendar, still not official, should follow the originally intended: the arrival of the athletes on 24, qualifications on 25 and 26, opening ceremony, Pairs/Men SP on 27, Pairs/Men FP on 28, SD and Ladies SP on 29 , FD and Ladies FP on 30. The television coverage will be ensured by the RTR channel Russia 2, with the broadest coverage possible, inform the Russian newspapers.
ISU has left the entries scheduled for Tokyo, but are expected confirmation of the various federations. For now, we know that Yu-Na Kim reiterated his intention to participate, returned to Korea on March 20, has coached in Seoul but has been busy working with the Committee for the Olympic Games in 2018. Finnish sources say instead Laura Lepistö won’t go anyway. Will be present the Japanese team and the same ISU in its statement of March 24 expressed the belief that it will be welcomed with special attention and respect. It seems that a hotel chain has offered to host the delegation of Japan for free.
Official site
http://en.worldfigureskating.ru/
Here’s the timetable (Russian time) for Worlds:
Monday 25/4
14.00 Men’s qualifying
Tuesday 26/4
12.00 Dance qualifying
15.30 Women’s qualifying
Wednesday 27/4
13.00 Men’s SP
18.00 Pairs’ SP
Thursday 28/4
13.30 Men’s FS
18.30 Pairs’ FS
Friday 29/4
13.30 Women’s SP
18.30 SP Dance
Saturday 30/4
13.30 Women’s FS
18.30 FS Dance
Sunday 1/5
14.00 Gala
On 2/5, winners (and not only) will be on St. Petersburg’s ice for a second Gala.
All Japanese skaters, while regretting for lost Worlds at home, have expressed a desire to work hard to perform at their best in Moscow, “to give hope and strength to Japan” as Mao Asada said. Another skater, Nobunari Oda, will be present even if he’ll be forced to postpone his wedding party.
and now my research for a streaming website has to start again (we cannot trust in italian tv) …. ladies are on 29 and 30? good.
Silvia, RTR will broadcast on “Rossiya 2” channel, which is visible in streaming and also on bouquet Sky: however, also Eurosport should be showing Worlds.
You’ve to go at this page:
http://news.sportbox.ru/
then, you must click on “Sportbox.ru”: this will open a new page, where you’ll can click on desired event. But remember that Moscow time is two hours delayed compared to Italy…
thank you so much!
Some more news about Worlds on TV, Silvia:
RAI is working to broadcast the event on Raisport 1, who will show it live, starting from Wednesday April 27th.
Sit here having tedious time. If someone is excited, share, please, have mercy.
Igor, write a poem about Kiira Korpi and post it on this site.
Thak you so much for alla the suggestions Northeangle.
Northeagle: fans, they’re trying to find consonance making songs without any (or “so much”) words. I believe the main problem is to take on leadership in playing music, blasted turtles?
I kind of understand Igor; it’s what is the relationship between fans and skaters? Why are there such things as fans? What are fans trying to express? It’s a cosmic yearning. Anyway, it just occurred to me that the 29th (Ladies short program) is the day that the Prince of England and Kate Middleton get married. It may be difficult getting news about the skating, all the news channels will probably be focused on the wedding. So it will be quite a day. We’re all going to have a real fun time alright. Igor–my grandmother came from Russia 100 years ago; I’ve seen her passport, it has the emblem of the Czar on it.
It would be right and kind of good decision, after all, to leave the princess to her kingdom, as a gesture of respect to her initiattivity. Do you agree, Mr Peters?
Oh, yes, the special relationship between fans and skaters has its own high etiquette. I like skating fans because they are typically educated, well-mannered, from higher income brackets, with upper echelon jobs. I consider ladies figure skaters to be like ballerinas. They work all their lives to achieve something elegant and refined. Watching the ladies skate is like appreciating a fine work of art in the Louvre or the Musee D’Orsay. Anyway, Igor, are you going to Worlds? Do you live in Moscow? What’s that weird airport next to the Megasport Arena? Was it there before or was it built just for the Arena? That Arena was built in just one year. You could be our “Man on the spot”, telling us how Worlds is going. Three weeks to go!
“skating fans because they are typically educated, well-mannered….” you should have been in my dressing room after the competitions: parents of the other skaters open the doors to contest the results, shouting and criticizing judges…
Do not actually want to see the blissful show. Do not live in Moscow. DnK. DnK. Knew one temple that was disassembled in one night.
Hey people!
As you can see on her offsite, Kiira found something encouraging in her life. How about that?
Save you God from healthy lifestyle representation.
Igor, what brand of Vodka is your favorite?
Обижаешь, Майки!
Hi folks!
I’m so glad that the C’ship will be held in Moscow, my hometown:) I’m definately going to watch the show at the arena if everything’s ok. Hope to see Kiira on the podium!
Best Regards, Ilya.
Yesterday I went to PalaVela, in Turin, for an “Ice Gala” which Laura Lepisto was invited too: it seemed to me she was in a good shape, but of course a show it’s not a great competition.
Anyway, I think she could take part on Worlds, physically talking: but probably, by now she’s far from them with her mind, ’cause decision is perhaps already taken.
Ilya: Let us know everything you can. Fill us in. If you’re at the Ladies sp and Freeskate at Megasport Arena, you can keep us updated, be our Man on the Spot. By the way, what did Igor say? I don’t read Russian. Two weeks to go! (And here in America the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War starts tomorrow on the 12th of April!) You’ll be seeing the best skaters in the world, not just Kiira but Yuna Kim, Alissa Czisny, Mao Asada, Miki Ando…you’re very lucky!
My word had the meaning “Sorry, Mr. Peters, I can’t handle even a girl”.
We trust in you, Timo, for tonight’s MTV3 Gala…
make all of us proud of you! ;o)
I just read in “Voice of Russia” that Worlds in Moscow is planning on using a special type of ice that will allow figure skaters to jump higher without hurting their knees. I’ve never heard of this ice. Anybody got any information on it? Is it just a rumor? Anyway, they’ve sold 16,500 tickets in just three days and have 15,000 tickets left. There’ll be 196 skaters from 44 countries.