Japan Open 1 October Saitama, Japan skipped Finlandia Trophy 7-9 October Vantaa, Finland skipped NHK Trophy 11-13 November Sapporo, Japan done Cup of Russia 25-27 November Moscow, Russia done Finnish Nationals 17-18 December Tampere, Finland done Europeans 2012 27-29 January 2012 Sheffield, United Kingdom silver!
From 16th to 18th of December, in Tampere, will be hold Finnish Championships: the ice rink chosen for this competition will be the Tampere Ice Hall, also called “Hakametsä”, which is the usual training rink of Kiira.
SP is scheduled for Saturday 17/12, and FS for Sunday 18/12.
Of course, without the presence of Laura, won’t be a problem for Kiira being Finland’s Champion for the third time in career: besides, never so close to home…
According to Helsingin Sanomat, Kiira will skip Finlandia Trophy because of injury. She hurt her metatarsus during a training camp in Canada last summer. Latest news is that Kiira will start her season in NHK Trophy on 11-13 November 2011. Minna Parviainen will substitute Kiira in Finlandia Trophy.
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.
In its statement of March 21, 2011 the ISU communicated the decision of the Japan Skating Federation (JSF) to decline holding the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2011, initially allotted to the JSF and scheduled to be held in Tokyo, Japan this week.
In the meantime, the ISU has received applications to hold the Event during the months of April or May of this year from its Member federations in Austria (Graz), Canada (Vancouver), Croatia (Zagreb), Finland (Turku), Russia (Moscow) and USA (Colorado Springs or Lake Placid).
The ISU thanks those Member federations for their spontaneous reaction during these truly dramatic and exceptional circumstances emanating from the crisis in Japan and highly appreciates their efforts for having prepared an application on such short notice. The ISU reiterates that in the light of the dramatic situation in Japan the staging of sporting events becomes relatively secondary and a solution satisfying all involved is extremely difficult. Nevertheless, it is in the best interest of the ISU and its Members to hold the Championships as soon as possible.
The ISU has reviewed all applications received and after careful evaluation the ISU Council decided to allot the Championships to the Figure Skating Federation of Russia, to be held in the Megasport Arena in Moscow/Russia, on April 24-May 1, 2011.
The organization of this major Event with little time to prepare will require a high level effort from the Figure Skating Federation of Russia which has assured the ISU of its full cooperation including in areas such as easy access to entry visas and security. The preparation for the updating of all relevant details (time schedule, Announcement, entry confirmations etc) have already begun and the ISU will revert as soon as possible with the necessary information.
Under these extraordinary circumstances the ISU asks for the full cooperation and understanding of the skating community and all involved entities in making this a successful Event. The full cooperation of all participating ISU Member federations hopefully attending in full strength will be of utmost importance.
Finally, the ISU is convinced that the Japanese delegation coming to Moscow deserves and will receive special attention and respect. At a time like this, words cannot express feelings but the ISU wants to let the skating friends of the Japan Skating Federation and the people of Japan know that the thoughts and wishes of the Skating family continue to remain with them.
Ottavio Cinquanta Fredi Schmid
President Director General
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