"Scotty Skymaster" <
skym...@alphacrucisradio.org> wrote in message
news:516c683d$0$7609$c3e8da3$12bc...@news.astraweb.com...
>
>
> And I see that more likely now, with the terror
> attack at the Boston Marathon today. After the
> 2008 Mumbai terrot attacks and the bombing
> of the Moscow Metro, in 2010, there was some
> talk, in many countries, including the USA, or
> banning, or at least restricting, VPNs, encryption,
> and other privacy tools.
One thing this terrorist attack has done is cause
a lot of stock markets to drop quite a bit, though
the Dow has regained some of its losses.
When that happened after 9/11, it sent the
world into an overall recessionary pattern,
which did ultimately affect figure skating.
The 1973-1984 downturn, the second
worst downturn in history, second only
to the Great Depression, had an effect
on skating that lasted long after the
recession was over, for the USA,
especially in the the ladies event.
During the ENTIRE decade of the
1980s, US ladies won just TWO
world medals, Elaine Zayack's
1981 gold and Tiffany Chin's
1985 bronze, and ZERO
Olympic medals.
The recession started by the 9/11
attacks in 2001 has practically
DECIMATED womens skating in the
US. US ladies have not medalled in the
Olympics since 2006, when Sasha Cohen
won silver. It has now been 10 years
since a US lady last won a world title,
since Michelle Kwan won her 5th world
title in 2003, and no world medallists of ANY
colour in ladies since Cohen's 2005 silver.
I do believe it will take YEARS for US
ladies skating to recover.
Part of the problem is that skating costs a
FORTUNE to participate in now. Skaters
are now expected to be in more events
each season. The most elite skaters will
be in several Masters and/or GP events
a season, in addition to worlds, and
Europeans/4 contiennts.
It has gotten to where only RICH familes
can have their children in skating. It is
very unlikely you will see any skaters
from working-class familes in the sport
soon. In short, unless the family is
pulling in a 6-figure salary, they cannot
afford to have their children in skating.
The cost of hotels, and especiall air
travel can be staggering now. There
is the cost of each checked bag. Then
a lot of things that used be free on the
airlines are not.
I think if it were for the that that
St Witz is NOT SERVED by public
transport, you would see skaters,
coaches, and officials using the
Akena motel in St Witz, because
it is way cheaper than any hotel
in central Paris.
I like to stay there when covering
French Open tennis in May or
Trophee Eric Bompard skating in
November, becuase its a good
inn at a good rate. I don't care
WHAT our detractors tell you, there
is NO public transportation that serves
St Witz, so the ONLY way into Paris
from the Akena motel in St Witz is
by CAR. The public transporation
network does not go out that far.
The cost of a room at the Akena
is usually about HALF what you
would pay for ANY room in or
near the city center, though the
trade off is having to DRIVE into
Paris, because of a lack of public
transport in St Witz.