Moscow International

[Robski Aitken]

Hi All,

I was impressed with the organisation of the "1st Open AllRussian Championships", especially the prizes!!

This led me to think of the following:

Are there any teams that would be interested in a Moscow International in the winter (Nov/Dec/Jan/Feb) months of the Canoe Polo season?

I have made a poll with several options. Russia isn't as cold, dark and dangerous as many believe it to be... Moscow is especially interesting.

So, out of interest, please let us know what you think of it!!

Robski. :lepr:
ps. adding a holiday onto the trip is an ideal idea!!
pps. Please be REASONABLE with your answers!

[Meridian]

Hi Rob,
before I answer your poll like to know a little bit more info who flies to Moscow and how cheap are they from london my team would definetly be up for it but it would depend on the date and the cost to the players which that is mainly made up by flight costs.
regards
Mark
by the way I am not representing the 1st team of my club just the other generally younger one that travels alot

[neklan]

Great idea!
I guess you think of something like the Berlin Tournament that takes place soon. First weekend of February.

[richk]

Im hoping that the tournament will be played indoors, if so then I know I would be interested. There is very little polo happening in northern europe so Im sure there would be plenty of interest from the scandanavian countries.

By the way, just how cold is it at the moment, we woke up to minus 12 in Oslo today.

Cheers
Rich

[Robski Aitken]

HI all,

Well, about prices:
The last ticket I booked from NLD, I booked it about 5 days in advance, it costed me 285 return (euro). If you book earlier in advance, and with more people, the prices are bound to be lower.

There are many airline companies that would be flying to Moscow. Aeroflot is the Russian national airline, which IS reliable. If it lands in any international airport in europe, then it has to meet thier conditions of quality. BA also fly from GB (my sister is flying with BA next week!).


About the weather, it's actually a bit strange at the moment!! Yesterday it was snowing quite heavily, with a cold wind. minus 10 I''d say. But today I was walking to work with slushy melting snow... about +6 or something. Again, I would like to see such a tournament in Dec/Jan. This is really a quiet time for europolo, so it would be worth the trip!

The tournament will be indoors (if it's in the winter after october, DEFINATELY indoors). I have heared that therer are about 6 different locations of olympic swimmingpools here in Moscow!! ;) If a decent international develops, with good team, the sponsorship whall develop... I guess that we can go into one of the pools that was BUILT for the olympics (... :sleep: zzzz.... nice dream huuh!??!).

But the cold should not be a barrier to teams visiting. One is not outside for very long anyway. It's very bearable.

Good to see the reactions on the poll!!

Please react!! Let me know what you would expect with such a tournament!

Looking forwards to your reactions!!

Robski. :lepr:

[RuStinka]

hi all ...

want to join this conversation- the wheather here is fine, its like in europe, just can be extreme sometimes-not a big deal.. but still, for exe, in holland can be even colder because of sea.

concerning flight costs... from moscow to europe its about 300$, as robka mentioned already...

and in swimming pool its even hot and nice!

stinka
moscow

ps mmm moscow international... :))

[Robski Aitken]

:rolleyes:

Unfortunately we cannot see who votes for what... could you please mention the team that you play for (so we know who to get back to if someone decides to arrange this tournament!),
:bow:
It would be nice to see which clubs give which anwers!
;)
Thanks!
:bow:
Robski :lepr:

[Lanoch]

Prague team would be interested if
there would be really cheap tickets(something like easyjet or ryanair) or sponsored ticket
transportation to/from the venue
cheap accomodation
boats to borrow

Lanoch

[Robski Aitken]

Well, My idea of what it *COULD* look like is:

- Boats borrowed (all teams use the same boats)

- Transportation to-from airport can be arranged

- Some sort of cheap accomodation can be found (needs to be researched what the possibilities could be!)

- I am not sure about payment of total tickets. Maybe some travel allowences. Maybe sponsorship could be arranged by an airline (aeroflot for example!?).

-Prize money for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. (First place prize money would be a considerable sum as far as the Polo-world prizes go!)


What amount of prise money would be interesting for teams if with the above terms/conditions?
Prize per team?
Prize per person?
Other prize appart from money?

Also, How much would you be willing to spend yourself (per team &/or per person) for such a tournament?

Give us some feed back!

Thanks! :bow:
Robski. :lepr:

[Odo]

Hi Robski,

It is probably unlikely that we'd send a team from our club, but with 4 players hailing from Russia(3) and Latvia(1) there is a certain level of interest. Cost and time when travelling from the US is an issue ... and player availability in the winter months.

If there are just a few people interested, do you think that there
might be a possibility of making up a scratch team with interested
players from other countries?

So, please keep us informed if you decide to go ahead with plans
for such a competition.

John O'D.
Golden Gate Breakers,
San Francisco.

[Robski Aitken]

Sure, why wouldn't there be allowed any mixed teams!?

This could make it even more interesting!!! Imagine the "best" palyers from 2-3 teams joinging forces.... HA! that would be a right ole blits!!! :hump:
unlesss..... another 2=3 teams did the same!!

YOu'd end up with the "All-Stars" championships!!!

:cheers:

Anything is possible! Especially in Moscow!
:bow:
Robski. :lepr:

[Curly]

for me the most important thing is that the tournament does not clash with any domestic committments, as the UK league runs over the winter at the moment.

other than that I'd love to go/come and stuff

curly

[Curly]

sorry rob, didn't read all your posts

I play for meridian. (just)

[Robski Aitken]

well, if it does get that far, then I suppose that it would be a wise idea to check what the different dommestic schedules are!

will keep it in mind!

Rob. :lepr:

[paul_s]

Hello, We went to the "1st Open AllRussian Championships", as a team consisting mainly of GKV peddlers (including rob of course). And I just want to tell that it was an amazing experience. The playing level was quite low at the tournament, but the experience of a week in winter moscow was quite unique. The organizing team was really nice and showed us moscow in a way we couldn't have seen it as 'just toerists'. Thank you all...
The flight to moscow was 222 return from dusseldorf germany with germania express. The visa was quite expensive, about 100 euro, but moscow itself wasn't as expensive as I expected it.
I really would like to go again next year, or maybe go to st. Petersburg as well...
Paul

[Big Mad Man Rol]

I can say that we from Odysseus in Alkmaar are always looking for new tournaments to discover. Only the costs...... But if you'll find a rich Russian who, instead of buying a London soccerteam, wants to adopt a canoepolo tournament.... Then were yours! :wavey: