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Post by Spooks on Nov 3, 2004 13:37:40 GMT
Will the UK be entering a team for the ice hockey event or are we not allowed to compete at this level ?
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Post by NevesMetro on Nov 3, 2004 13:42:49 GMT
I would have thought that we will be in some qualifying group with a very small chance of getting through to the Olympics itself... But here's hoping
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Shaggy
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Post by Shaggy on Nov 3, 2004 13:49:11 GMT
Will the UK be entering a team for the ice hockey event or are we not allowed to compete at this level ? GB will not have a team for the 2006 Winter Olympics, simply because IHUK withdrew them from the qualifying stages. To be fair, there wasn't much chance of us getting through the qualifiers, and IHUK's motivation was the lack of cash - but there were sources of funding available that IHUK could have exploited, but didn't. Basically, it was a total balls-up which has left a lot of us GB fans very angry - but it's all done and over now, and hopefully those in authority have learned from it.
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Helen B
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Post by Helen B on Nov 3, 2004 13:49:12 GMT
Last I heard was that we were not entering a team even into the qualification stages for the Olympics.
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Post by NevesMetro on Nov 3, 2004 13:51:34 GMT
GB will not have a team for the 2006 Winter Olympics, simply because IHUK withdrew them from the qualifying stages. To be fair, there wasn't much chance of us getting through the qualifiers, and IHUK's motivation was the lack of cash - but there were sources of funding available that IHUK could have exploited, but didn't. Basically, it was a total balls-up which has left a lot of us GB fans very angry - but it's all done and over now, and hopefully those in authority have learned from it. Please ignore my earlier post then doh
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Post by Spooks on Nov 3, 2004 14:06:24 GMT
How come i am not suprised by this. and if you dont try how will you know. I am sure the heart is there for it. .........slips off into a cool runnings ice hockey daydream mode.
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Warren
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Post by Warren on Nov 3, 2004 14:14:03 GMT
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Post by heja on Nov 3, 2004 16:42:11 GMT
i am sure at the time they said that they could rejoin after they said no you can't, but then IHUK said they din't want to again.
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Post by spik on Nov 3, 2004 20:32:27 GMT
Simply....Mickey Mouse run sport (that we all love) with no communication with its fanbase.OH......thats right , the paying client.
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Shaggy
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Post by Shaggy on Nov 3, 2004 22:51:03 GMT
Maybe...... unfortunately it's done and dusted now.
IHUK have been made aware of the depth of feeling on this one, and also made aware of the unused opportunities for future tournaments.
Unfortunately, all we can do is put this one behind us and look forward......
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2004 9:35:14 GMT
Actually, Shaggy, you are totally wrong.
The cost of entering 2 teams into the qualifying rounds would have been AT LEAST £50000. If you entered the men you would have to enter the women. It would have been no use IHUK entering if they didn't expect to advance to the next round and funds would have had to be available for that and subsequent rounds.
What IHUK withdrew from was the PRE-qualifying round. If GB had got through that there are two more QUALIFYING rounds before getting to the actual Olympics.
GB men are currently 25th in the World rankings. There were over 30 teams entered in the Pre-Qualifiers and there were only 3 places left in the actual Olympics.
Far from it just being a funding issue, IHUK had actually thought the whole process through and decided that it would be better to spend the money doing something more worth while, like holding the Under 20 Worlds in this country to give our up and coming players the very best chance to stay in their group.
And, yes the Great Britain Supporter's Club did offer funding, after GB was withdrawn, the funding they offered was £10000. A lot has been said about IHUK asking GBSC to help but as the level of funding over the last 5 years has been under £5000 a year it simply never occurred to IHUK that GBSC would have the level of funding that would be required. And they were right! IHUK and GBSC continue to work closely together, there is NO animosity!
IHUK is not simply the 'mickey mouse' organisation that they are held up to be they are doing their very best for the national teams.
If you read other forums (fora?!) you would see that the GBSC were full of praise for IHUK when they were invited to attend a planning meeting for the World U20s which is being held at iceSheffield 13 - 19 December 2004.
Quote...........
I would like to go on record and state publicly how impressed, both myself and Annette from GBSC were, having been invited to attend the planning meeting for the Under 20 World Championships being held at Ice Sheffield 13th - 19th December.
We were a little unsure as to what to expect, after being invited by Chairman Neville Moralee. The perception that IHUK don't know what they are doing is far from correct. With regards to the planning of these championships they have done/are doing a very good job. Things are being planned to the last detail.
We thought it was very good that we were at last perceived to be able to help and that's why we were invited. It just goes to show that things are beginning to move forward.
Once again, well done to IHUK.
Jim Keen GBSC Membership Secretary.
Hope you will all be going to iceSheffield to watch the Under 20s.
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Post by girdeaux on Nov 4, 2004 9:42:38 GMT
Actually, Shaggy, you are totally wrong. The cost of entering 2 teams into the qualifying rounds would have been AT LEAST £50000. If you entered the men you would have to enter the women. It would have been no use IHUK entering if they didn't expect to advance to the next round and funds would have had to be available for that and subsequent rounds. What IHUK withdrew from was the PRE-qualifying round. If GB had got through that there are two more QUALIFYING rounds before getting to the actual Olympics. GB men are currently 25th in the World rankings. There were over 30 teams entered in the Pre-Qualifiers and there were only 3 places left in the actual Olympics. Far from it just being a funding issue, IHUK had actually thought the whole process through and decided that it would be better to spend the money doing something more worth while, like holding the Under 20 Worlds in this country to give our up and coming players the very best chance to stay in their group. And, yes the Great Britain Supporter's Club did offer funding, after GB was withdrawn, the funding they offered was £10000. A lot has been said about IHUK asking GBSC to help but as the level of funding over the last 5 years has been under £5000 a year it simply never occurred to IHUK that GBSC would have the level of funding that would be required. And they were right! IHUK and GBSC continue to work closely together, there is NO animosity! IHUK is not simply the 'mickey mouse' organisation that they are held up to be they are doing their very best for the national teams. If you read other forums (fora?!) you would see that the GBSC were full of praise for IHUK when they were invited to attend a planning meeting for the World U20s which is being held at iceSheffield 13 - 19 December 2004. Quote........... I would like to go on record and state publicly how impressed, both myself and Annette from GBSC were, having been invited to attend the planning meeting for the Under 20 World Championships being held at Ice Sheffield 13th - 19th December. We were a little unsure as to what to expect, after being invited by Chairman Neville Moralee. The perception that IHUK don't know what they are doing is far from correct. With regards to the planning of these championships they have done/are doing a very good job. Things are being planned to the last detail. We thought it was very good that we were at last perceived to be able to help and that's why we were invited. It just goes to show that things are beginning to move forward. Once again, well done to IHUK. Jim Keen GBSC Membership Secretary. Hope you will all be going to iceSheffield to watch the Under 20s. Thanks for that IHUK
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Post by Spooks on Nov 4, 2004 10:36:26 GMT
Excellent stuff.
So at which point does all this development of the young players pay off 3-5-10 years time ? Will we try and go for olympic glory or just keep developing younger players with no where for them to go or things to strive for. (This is not a gripe by the way)
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Post by girdeaux on Nov 4, 2004 10:39:44 GMT
Excellent stuff. So at which point does all this development of the young players pay off 3-5-10 years time ? Will we try and go for olympic glory or just keep developing younger players with no where for them to go or things to strive for. (This is not a gripe by the way) Good point Spooks If there's no realistic chance of competing against top players on the international stage, then why would a player see any point with GB?
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Post by Spooks on Nov 4, 2004 10:58:09 GMT
Yep, what goals are set for GB ? Personally i would like to see GB try and get in Pool A as a major step forward. I dont think we could muster being able to stay in this group on a permanant basis but just being in there would be motivation enough for younger players knowing it could be done.
Maybe we are looking at 5-7 even 10 years delvelopment program for such things to happen. However with the current standard we have at the moment which is constantly improving we are maybe 2 years down that line already.
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Shaggy
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Post by Shaggy on Nov 4, 2004 11:34:06 GMT
Excuse me, Jim - but it's quite obvious that you have completely mis-read what I said...... Actually, Shaggy, you are totally wrong. The cost of entering 2 teams into the qualifying rounds would have been AT LEAST £50000. If you entered the men you would have to enter the women. It would have been no use IHUK entering if they didn't expect to advance to the next round and funds would have had to be available for that and subsequent rounds. What IHUK withdrew from was the PRE-qualifying round. If GB had got through that there are two more QUALIFYING rounds before getting to the actual Olympics. Yes - I know this..... and as you well know, that point was debated at some length at the GBSC AGM which I also attended. If you remember, there was a lot of support for the idea of GB entering the pre-qualifiers, regardless of whether or not it was 'likely' that they would get through to the next round. Competition is competition, and the Olympics comes round only once every four years..... to simply dismiss the whole idea of competing surely goes totally against the whole ethos of the national team and GBSC? This sounds like changing views after the fact to me.... Funny, that's not exactly how Neville Moralee put it at the AGM..... he himself said it was pretty much a 'snap' decision. The decision itself may well have been correct based upon the conditions at that moment - but it was the handling of the whole situation previous to this that created those conditions. We have been assured that this will change in the future, and I hope it will - all we can do is wait and see. Did I say there is NOW? Because we both know there was a hell of a lot then! Yes - it didn't occur to IHUK that GBSC could help.... that misconception has now been corrected. But let's put your figures into perspective. GBSC came up with the £10k in funding in what - 24 hours or so? Imagine what could happen with notice of several months? And as you probably know even better than I, 'general' fundraising (such as the £5k per year you mention) is never as productive as specific, targeted fundraising. How many potential sponsors would not be interested in general stuff, but would love to be "Official GB Olympic Ice Hockey Team Sponsors"? That total figure sounds impossible, but in actual fact could well have been achievable. I quite agree..... being one of the people who has come in for some serious stick both on here and on THF for defending IHUK in the past....... Like other organisations, IHUK are IMHO neither all good nor all bad.... and I'll call 'em as I see 'em. Like I said earlier - it's behind us and we have to look forward. Doesn't mean to say that we should ignore the past, and I take exception to the way that you appear to be re-writing history and telling me that I don't know what I'm talking about. I know I'm only a bog-standard nobody fan, but surely I am allowed an opinion, just like everyone else? Pardon me for breathing! Damn straight - progress! That's a good move by IHUK.... and hopefully something that will continue and grow. Looks like I'll only be able to get to the Mon/Tue games but I for one am looking forward to them.... and like Jim, I hope we'll have a good turnout!
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Milkman™
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Post by Milkman™ on Nov 4, 2004 14:24:39 GMT
Anybody whos going the olympics, gimme a nod and we can meet up for a beer
Im lucky enough to be working it ;o)
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Shaggy
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Post by Shaggy on Nov 4, 2004 15:01:22 GMT
If there's no realistic chance of competing against top players on the international stage, then why would a player see any point with GB? The chance to represent their country? I don't know if you realise, but the players don't get paid to play for GB - they do it because they want to... they play for pride - and those I have spoken to have been damned proud about it as well! Or look at it another way...... right now, we might not have much chance at international glory. What about in 20 years' time? If (putting 'optimistic hat' on) our sport gets itself sorted and starts booming in this country - what about our chances then? They'd be zero if nobody bothered right now.
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Post by girdeaux on Nov 4, 2004 15:05:10 GMT
The chance to represent their country? I don't know if you realise, but the players don't get paid to play for GB - they do it because they want to... they play for pride - and those I have spoken to have been damned proud about it as well! Or look at it another way...... right now, we might not have much chance at international glory. What about in 20 years' time? If (putting 'optimistic hat' on) our sport gets itself sorted and starts booming in this country - what about our chances then? They'd be zero if nobody bothered right now. Jeez, calm down. I simply responded to the notion that Spooks alluded to, ie if GB players can't compete at this present time against better teams & players, then surely it goes against the very ethos of sport itself. Ie to compete & be the best.
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Doughnut
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Post by Doughnut on Nov 4, 2004 15:09:32 GMT
Anyone remember this guy?
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Post by Spooks on Nov 4, 2004 15:26:52 GMT
lol he was fun to watch, completly and uttlerly utterly rubbish but he gave it go and got into the olympics not bad for a country with crap snow.
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Shaggy
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Post by Shaggy on Nov 4, 2004 17:00:10 GMT
Jeez, calm down. I simply responded to the notion that Spooks alluded to, ie if GB players can't compete at this present time against better teams & players, then surely it goes against the very ethos of sport itself. Ie to compete & be the best. Errr.... Anton? I was being calm - no anger/histrionics involved. I think you have mis-understood the tone of my reply. "To compete and be the best"? They are competing. And does "to be the best" simply mean when measured against everyone else... or when measured against one's own potential?
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Post by girdeaux on Nov 4, 2004 17:26:15 GMT
And does "to be the best" simply mean when measured against everyone else... or when measured against one's own potential? Well I guess that's all down to semantics
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Milkman™
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Post by Milkman™ on Nov 4, 2004 18:05:58 GMT
Well I guess that's all down to semantics Whats the Jewish race gotta do with it
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Post by girdeaux on Nov 4, 2004 18:27:21 GMT
Whats the Jewish race gotta do with it LOL ;D But that's Semitic I think you'll find
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