Kamloops athletes party open to all (except many 3K runners)
One of the highlights of any world meet is the athletes banquet. Even if the food and entertainment aren’t world-class, the conversation and camaraderie are. So it was a shock to learn that the “Polar Storm Party” at Kamloops worlds is scheduled smack in the middle of many 3,000-meter races. The current “revised schedule” posted here shows the finals for the W70‐84 3000 at 6:50 p.m. March 3, followed by W60-69 at 7:15, W50-59 at 7:35, W35-49 at 7:50 and M35-44 at 8:05 p.m. Yet the party at the TRU Grand Hall starts at 6:30 p.m. March 3, with dinner served at 7. You cannot be serious! Besides the absurdity of athletes shelling out $25 for a shindig they can’t attend, this might be the first time any event at a worlds has conflicted with the party. In addition, the M75‐94 3000 final is set for 9 a.m. March 4. So it’s eat-and-run for the elder gents.
One 3K entrant at Kamloops wrote me:
For some stupid reason I bought a ticket and apparently I am going to have to just eat it for dinner – as the party is somewhere other than at the track (duh) and those of us running the 3k (all women and men 35-44) will be running around the track. . . . In all the years that I have attended WMA meets (and usually I do not buy party tickets – but did this time) never do I recall this situation. . . . (Maybe they) cannot do anything at this point about the conflict — but I do not think it should be papered over. Frankly, I think it is very disrespectful of the 3k athletes.
Also, meals are available at the athlete center . . . pretty expensive food. Will there be other food available for those who do not want to pay $15 for lunch or $20 for dinner? Guess I better load up my suitcase with granola bars.
This is a scandal. I doubt the party can be changed, but maybe the 3K finals can be reskedded. At the very least, anyone who bought party tickets should get a refund and an apology. (The folks to write are the LOC co-chairs Judy Armstrong and Bob Cowden.)
I hope the rest of the meet doesn’t fall victim to this lack of coordination and consideration.
18 Responses
If I am correct I think this is the first time they have tried to do an athletes party at Indoor Worlds. I sure someone was bound to be left out not matter what day they picked. There has to be a good reason why they picked Wednesday for the day of the party.
You misunderstand the issue – does not matter what day – it is the fact that competition is going on until after 8 pm – while the party starts at 6:30 with the dinner at 7 pm. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday etc – no difference – those athletes who PAID for a ticket for the party and who are scheduled for a competition at the same time get to choose – party on – and miss your race or race and miss the party. Well fine you can say- but this was NOT KNOWN until very recently and after buying a ticket assuming there would not be a conflict. Are you suggesting that anyone who knew they had a race on Wed should not have bought a ticket? We were suppose to guess that of the many events scheduled for Wednesday- one would be held at the same time as the party/dinner?
I think the LOC should offer a refund to those of us who bought a ticket in good faith that there would not be a conflict – and now find ourselves in this situation. There was no way of knowing until the event/time schedule was published that they were running events into the evening of the night of the party.
Next time I will not buy a ticket and resume my usual practice of skipping WMA parties.
We did not purchase tickets for the Athletes Party. We were planning to purchase them when we got to Kamloops. If anyone would like to sell their tickets (we need 2) please contact us so we can work out a time to meet with you. Email: mb91803@gwtc.net
Hmmmm, W45 200 meter finals are scheduled for approximately 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. After sweating through my warmup and event, I don’t think I’ll be socially acceptable for a dinner party at 7:00 p.m. (assuming I make the finals).
I received an email from the LOC that some adjustments may be made to the schedule and maybe a pushback on the dinner time “after they look at the scratches”. Hum – the deadline for declaration is 10am on the day of the events for everything after noon – so how much of a change can be made?
I am supposed to run at 6:50- 3k – do not think I wil be very socially acceptable either after that for a dinner party that has already begun. I am not a fan of leftover party food – especially if I paid for the meal and show.
Re the request to buy tickets – I suspect there will be some on sale – and many of us who bought tickets looking to sell. Perhaps even more if the LOC buys back from the athletes who are to compete during the party.
What I enjoy most about these meets is both watching other events and having folks in the stands cheering (I hope) when I compete. Guess the numbers will be thinned out by the party going on elsewhere.
Hey Mary, let’s keep our socially unacceptable selves at the track and cheer for each other!
See you there – probably we will be able to smell each other coming!
I’m also surprised to see that the track is not available for athletes to train on Saturday or Sunday before the meet. It may be warm enough to do a run outside, but it would be nice to see the facilities, get the feel of the track, and do a workout before starting competition on Monday.
Speaking of weather, those arriving in Seattle before taking a bus or car to Kamloops should have little worry, as forecast shows 45-54 on Saturday and 45 to 60 on Sunday (for Seattle).
For the big meet, high temperatures in Kamloops are forecast to be (for March 1 through 5) 48, 52, 51, 52, and 49, respectively. Should not be too bad for travel or outside competition.
You superstars are always socially acceptable….regardles of the smell. lol Wish I could be there. Lots of luck to my track family and I’ll be cheering my you-know-what off for y’all. (((team hug)))
All part of my plan for kamloops-since I can’t “own the podium” I can “pwn the odium” ;p
wow – thanks for the weather report Peter- maybe I will leave my down jacket at home – or I will be “sweating with the oldies” for sure! (including myself of course as an oldie)
You’re welcome, Mary. I sure hope they didn’t trick us on this report (the temps looks suspiciously close to what is being predicted for Vancouver, but Kamloops is quite a ways inland, which would indicate lower temps). Oh, well, Mary, you will find out shortly and will issue a report when you have time I am sure.
I am hoping to make the 200 finals and I already bought a ticket for the athlete’s party. I have never been to a WMA meet, so I figured the events and the party wouldn’t conflict when I bought my ticket.
Also didn’t realize that the track wouldn’t be available on Saturday or Sunday. I could use a shake-out workout on Sunday after a long trip on Saturday, but imagine our friends who are not from North America – I am sure they could really stand to get the long trip out of their legs. I hope these two situations are not some sort of foreshadowing.
If we even get to Kamloops – winter storm may cancel all flights out of New Jersey – I would want my significant other to be at the track watching me run the 3K rather than partying. He agrees. So do both of us qualify for a refund of the party ticket?
We bought them in good faith that we could actually attend.
Latest look at the 10 day forcast for Kamloops shows rain showers for the week of the meet. Outdoor throws and races may be competing between the showers. Conditions similar to what we have been having here in S Central Florida. Sure hope we get a weekend day indoors to train a bit.
Mary Harada, maybe you should bring your down jacket after all. I just looked at an entirely different source on Kamloops weather, and it is not as sanguine as my original choice. For March 1 (Monday) through March 6 (Saturday) it shows the following highs:
49, 49, 46, 44, 45, and 50 (lows range from 31 to 38).
My original choice shows, for the same days, highs as follows:
49, 49, 51, 54, 55, and 55 (lows from 31 to 38).
So….it won’t be the “coldfest” that some imagined, but it will get down to around the freezing point at night. And as G. Dixon points out, you can expect rain next week.
Sure would have been nice to be there, but I will wait to see people in Boston. In the interim, be warm.
There is another use of the facility (BC high school basketball championships) this weekend and that is likely why the facility is not available for training.
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