WKC Site Selection

[elfboy]

I was wondering the other night about the World Kendo Championship's city selection process. With all due respect, the event doesn't have as much coverage and whatnot surrounding it as, say, the Olympics. Different cities proposing, losing, winning, competiting for the honor of hosting the Olympics. But whereas the Olympic host city selection process is a drama in its own right - how is it like for the World Kendo Championships? Do multiple countries generally propose acting as host and vy for consideration from the International Kendo Federation or is the process much more subtle? I'd imagine with all the member countries of the IKF there must be some drama in it. I remember very well how emotionally relieved New York City was after it defeated San Francisco for Olympic hosting consideration...

Which brings me to my next point. What would the World Kendo Championships be like if it were held in NYC, and has the possibility risen in the past? I'd imagine that one could bring up advantages and drawbacks to this discussion similar to how one would discuss the Olympics in the Big Apple: overloaded traffic, stress on the city structure, etc. So what are your thoughts? I'll present mine - albiet a bit long.

I think that the World Kendo Championships would present much less of a strain on the city than the Olympics. Yet I would also imagine that, given the media-driven and rapid pace of life in the city, the Kendo Championship would gain alot of media attention and would draw curious New Yorkers to it. Besides, New York City is home to many kendojos, moreso than any city I know (correct me if I'm wrong.) Somehow, I also think that the ethnic diversity of the city could play in the Championship's favor, though I don't know in what way. Madison Square Garden would probably be an ideal place to have the Championships - and it would be a dream come true to walk into the Garden and instantly come face to face with a shiai in progress. I would die happy :D.

Hey, if you think this is unrealistic or silly to think about, remember a couple of years back they were considering moving the Yankees to Manhattan or something ridiculous like that :D

[AlexM]

I think they begin by rotating the championships between continents: Asia-Americas-Europe-Asia-etc... As for the rest, I have no idea (although the championships have never been to Taiwan before so I suppose this is their "turn").

Holding it in New York would be great by the way (close to home). But the earliest possible will be 2009, and even then it's an unlikely candidate because the US got to host the last the big show came to the continent (2000). I'm willing to bet South America will be the tournament host in 2009 (Brazil possibly?). Which means another 9 years of waiting for New York in 2018... and one might assume that Canada may want to host at that time (Vancouver?). I hate to sound pessimistic but you might have to wait until 2027 to see the World's in New York.... and by that time we'll all be eating soylent green anyway... mmmmmmmmmmm.... soylent green.... (drooling sounds).

This is all fuzzy math at any rate... if anything comes out of wack (if they stop rotating between continents or if it doesn't go to South America in 2009 or if green house gases eventually make life on Earth impossible) then the entire model falls apart.

[elfboy]

I think they begin by rotating the championships between continents: Asia-Americas-Europe-Asia-etc... As for the rest, I have no idea (although the championships have never been to Taiwan before so I suppose this is their "turn").

Right, but I assume that if a championship visits a continent twice, it's held in different cities. I think the last U.S Championship was in Santa Clara, but why there as opposed to somewhere else? I'm trying to find out how it works on the city level, as I can assume that these things aren't random.


I hate to sound pessimistic but you might have to wait until 2027 to see the World's in New York.... and by that time we'll all be eating soylent green anyway... mmmmmmmmmmm.... soylent green.... (drooling sounds).


Well whenever it happens, it'll be good. I guess that brings up yet another quick question: which sporting facilities would be an ideal place to host the WKC? Somehow I don't think Yankee Stadium is the greatest choice but somehow the World Championships at Chelsea Piers doesn't sound too great either.... but anything's better than soylent green! :confused2:

[jmarsten]

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[jmarsten]

The 2000 tournament was hosted in the United States because we agreed to take it. It is an enormous strain on most of the host countries. It was held in Santa Clara because the president of Northern Cal works at Santa Clara University and was able to cut us a deal on the site. Northern Cal volunteered to be the primary US support group but we got volunteers from all over the country to come in at their own expense to work the tournament. New York would probably not be at the top of the site list if we ever host it again in the US due to excessive costs associated with being there. The tournament is rotated between the IKF zones Asia, America and Europe. The next site that could be a potential American zone host may be Hawaii since they have never hosted and are a founding member of the IKF. Key word here is potential. To date no country in the America Zone has stepped up to 2009 to my knowledge.
So why is Hawaii a seperate member of the IKF? Because when it was formed there were only 16 members and Hawaii was 13 hours by air from the mainland. They are grandfathered in as a permanent member by action of the general assemby at the 1997 Kyoto meeting along with a couple of others like Hong Kong.
J Marsten, Taikai president 11th WKC
IKF Director 1997-2003

[samurai999]

That would be AWESOME if one of the future WKC sites were to be in Hawaii. Maybe they can host it at Univ of Hawaii's bball arena! Hawaii is normally a tourist hot-spot right? If so, why not? It would be a good excuse to go to Hawaii, vacation or not!!

Tim

[heri0n]

i have also heard it is rumoured the 2006 wkc is to be in hawaii... gotta make team canada! :P

[jmarsten]

Key word is RUMOR, again as I said before currently I know of no country in the America Zone that has indicated it would step forward.

[amatsuda]

Key word is RUMOR, again as I said before currently I know of no country in the America Zone that has indicated it would step forward.

Just as long as it's not in Santa Clara again....

I'm not Sure if I want to go through that again...I think it's easier being a senshu.

I think I put in at least 120 hours that week and even though my entire family was there to help (mom, dad, sister and wife) I barely spoke to them or saw them as we were all doing our own assigned tasks and responsibilities...

Regarding WKC in NYC? To be honest with you...It's not like setting up your local tournament...It's a full-fledged sports venue requiring planning, organizing, and LOTS OF man-power...and you have to have people who are committed to get the jobs requested of them done before, during and after the tournament when called upon...not just people who want to show up on tournament day and timekeep for an hour to get a free souvenir staff shirt and jacket...

11 WKC Santa Clara was successful because all the people helping with the tournament put forth 100 percent to make it a success....Everyone involved put in hundreds of hours planning, organizing, and planning the event. and as one of the tournament organizers, I am eternally grateful for the devotion, cooperation and efforts by all the staff who assisted us.

amatsuda

[elfboy]

Regarding WKC in NYC? To be honest with you...It's not like setting up your local tournament...It's a full-fledged sports venue requiring planning, organizing, and LOTS OF man-power...and you have to have people who are committed to get the jobs requested of them done before, during and after the tournament when called upon...not just people who want to show up on tournament day and timekeep for an hour to get a free souvenir staff shirt and jacket...
amatsuda

Hm... I would imagine that Madison Square Garden qualifies as a full fledged sports venue and considering that it is host to a countless number of sporting events of all kinds, concerts and sometimes, the occasional televangelist and his flock, I'm sure that the Kendo Championships wouldn't have too much trouble in getting the venue.

I do agree with you about manpower - though there are many Kendo and Kumdo dojos in the tri-state area (NYC Kendo Club, Ken Zen, Kenshinkai, Hongmookwan, etc) , I have a feeling that even if all dojo members came out to help, it still wouldn't be enough, and Kendo is not widely known in the city or tri-state area to the general populace. Still, I'm sure that wherever it is, the WKC has no trouble with a lack of volunteers, and I'm sure that they use what would be the equivalent of a roadie to get things on the road. Haha. Kendo Roadie. :D

and, to link things up with what AlexM said to start off with, if we have to wait at least until 2027 for the WKC to be in NYC, then I would assume that by then, NYC will be chosen or not chosen to host the Olympics. I read an article the other day in the times about an ambitious 9 figure project that would renovate a section of the Queens waterfront into an Olympic Village, housing athletes and coaches in a mini-metropolis, complete with its own separate subway line to Manhattan. Perhaps the usage of this Olympic Village could help things out in terms of logistics for WKC?

I'm just dreaming, but I'm not afraid to dream out loud :devious: