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breathesgelatin

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Everything posted by breathesgelatin

  1. No Budapest thread yet? Seems like they're going to bid. What's the buzz on this one?
  2. More official news about ISU proposals to add synchro and a mass start speed skating event to the 2018 games: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/chi-synchro-figure-skating-mass-start-speed-race-proposed-for-2018-olympics-20140929-story.html
  3. The ISU is strongly rumored to be applying to add synchronized skating to the 2018 games. Unclear yet, but some are speculating that if this happened they would drop or alter the team event. https://elinapaasonen.squarespace.com/blog/
  4. Here is an interesting interview with Denis Ten where he discusses the development of figure skating in Kazakhstan: http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2014/06/interview-with-denis-ten.html
  5. So, for the past two springs, Denis Ten has put together a figure skating show called "Denis Ten and Friends," with stops in Almaty and Astana. It appears to be one of the best casts put together for this type of show in years and years. This year's cast includes: Mao Asada, Mirai Nagasu, Evan Lyscaek, Maxim Trankov & Tatiana Volosozhar, Carolina Kostner, Brian Joubert, Stephane Lambiel, Daisuke Takahashi, Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat, and more. It's a charity show and the money is going toward the development of figure skating in Kazakhstan. Not only does the show have a sick cast, they appear to be showing the skaters a really good time and they've all been instagramming beautiful pictures of Kazakhstan. Anyway, it seems like a real PR coup for Kazakhstan in the figure skating world. Apparently they're hoping to commit a lot of money to the development of the sport... I'll add that Denis Ten seems to be pretty savvy with business/PR matters.
  6. To get back to Krakow, I will say I very much enjoyed learning more about the city. It seems like such a lovely place. One of the great things about following the Olympics is the opportunity to learn more about geography and culture! Also it was nice to get some new Polish members on the forums and I hope you will stick around. I have a feeling we could see Krakow bidding again someday...
  7. So in the most recent episode of "Almost Human," a science fiction show set in a semi-dystopic 2048, there was a reference to the 2036 Detroit Olympics.
  8. I don't know much about ice climbing other than they were supposed to do the demonstration in Sochi. So I googled: http://www.iceclimbingworldcup.org/rules-and-regulations.html So there are two disciplines, one based on pure speed, the other is judged as to who performs the most difficult routes. And then they choose a combined winner from the two disciplines as well. I found this article about the ice climbing demonstration at Sochi: http://www.ctvnews.ca/sochi/speed-ice-climbers-at-sochi-games-say-sport-belongs-on-the-olympic-podium-1.1699654 Anyway. I wonder how expensive it is to construct a track. I also looked up this 'ice cross' or 'Red Bull Crashed Ice' that other people mentioned. Man, I gotta say, this sport seems stupid and dangerous. It's what my husband calls the "Taco Bell-ification" of the Olympics, where you have like 5 ingredients and you just keep mixing them up different ways. Not sure I want to see this in the Olympics... Also hard to imagine the crusty ISU taking this under their wing. Anything for a buck, maybe...
  9. You're right about the dominant nations in synchronized figure skating, but there are other countries that have good teams (Russia, Germany). I don't think the ISU hates synchro. I agree that it is highly unlikely it will be added for 2022 but I wouldn't be surprised if we saw it someday. How about ice climbing? LOL. I remember they were supposed to have a house or demonstration or something in Sochi.
  10. Another new article about Almaty's bid: http://aroundtherings.com/site/A__46103/Title__Almaty-2022-Proximity-to-Mountains-Our-Biggest-Asset/292/Articles
  11. I'm not thrilled about it, but I don't see any way that more extreme sports don't join the summer program in future years. The question is, will the IOC actually have the nerve to cut other sports?
  12. Reliant Stadium is the example I know best that Tony cited. Reliant Stadium was built in 2002, has a roof currently, and a seating capacity of 71,000. Tony is proposing to tear down and rebuild it SMALLER. WHAT?!?! That is an example of how crazy some of what he was proposing is. Now granted, there is quite a bit of open space in that area of Houston at the moment, given they're tearing down the Astrodome. The US has a plethora of stadiums. I personally walk by a stadium on my way to and from my office each day that is in pristine condition and seats over 90,000. It's for COLLEGE football. I find it highly unlikely that any proposed US world cup is going to involve building tons of brand new stadiums. Upgrades or renovations to some, sure.
  13. The thing was built in 2002. And Tony is proposing to build it with about 20,000 seats than it has now! LOL, what? ^ 20,000 fewer.
  14. Tony, you are ridiculous. There is so much wrong with what you propose, I don't know where to get started. Oh wait - I do. The United States will never build a "National Stadium." Ugh, maybe I was a bit harsh. But seriously, you're proposing this stuff and you seem to know little about politics/culture in the US.
  15. Well, it's a lot harder to manage that if you have kids and a family you have a lot of responsibilities toward the next morning. And if you can't take any time off work around the Olympics. Et cetera.
  16. No, what does it mean? That was EXACTLY my line of thought, actually. What if the other cities do not hire consultants, and then Kraków ends up the winner? Very similar to the Sochi situation. Of course, maybe everyone but Oslo will end up hiring consultants.
  17. It seems Krakow has hired an outside consultancy to assist with bid preparation: http://www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/winter-olympics/2022/1017679-krakow-hire-mclatchey-s-eks-to-gain-bidding-experience-in-2022-race Will be interesting to see how this plays against Bach's call for bidders to develop their plans in-house. I have to say, at the moment, the Krakow bid is capturing my imagination the most, due to the many interesting posts from our Polish GamesBids members.
  18. I don't see how Lyon is too small. In reality, France will bid for the SOGs with Paris. Lyon is a non-starter. But I don't think it's 'too small.'
  19. There were definitely people complaining about a ceremony under a roof before Vancouver, even right here on GamesBids... Some of them were straight crazy, now, but they were there.
  20. That's right. I started lurking on the GamesBid site and forums around the time of the Sochi election. My recollection is that most members at that time were pretty surprised Sochi was picked, given the fact that they basically had no venues ready to go and it was seen as the most expensive bid, after the IOC had been paying lip service at that time to more modest bids.
  21. Sad about Munich. But for all those who are now crowing Oslo - haven't several people posted that Oslo doesn't yet have the needed financial guarantees from the national government? What if they don't get them. Correct me if I've misunderstood, but I don't think Oslo has this wrapped in Munich's absence, at all. **er, make that CROWNING Oslo.
  22. So Almaty has committed to bid for 2022. In fact right now, just a month out, they seem like the surest bet to submit a bid. Let's discuss. I am a big figure skating fan and indeed watching figure skating as a child is how I got interested in the Olympics in the first place. I am a big fan of the young skater Denis Ten, who has a great chance to medal in Sochi and bring Kazakhstan to the world stage in winter sport. I'm not clear on any of Kazkhstan's other accomplishments in winter sport. All in all, I am not sure I see Almaty as winning for 2022, mostly for geopolitical reasons. However, I hope they make the short list this time so we can really see what they are putting out there. I think they can eventually win, with some perseverance.
  23. Yes, I suppose Oslo is in the mix too. So potentially six bidding cities. Wow. The thing with Munich is, their referendum is only a few days before the applications are due. Suppose the vote is negative. What do they do? Decide not to submit at the last minute? Submit anyway?
  24. Agreed. But how certain is it that Krakow, Lviv, and Oestersund will all bid?
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