Canada at the Olypmiad

[David Ottosen]

Re: Canada at the Olypmiad

Of course. He has a high rating so then he must know how the world works as well as how to move those little chess peices. He must already realize that there are many people just sitting around waiting to give their money away to chess players for an unclear return on their investment. I await more of his knowledge to be bestowed upon me.

Now you're getting it, Brian. I'm glad you've seen the light!

[Brian Profit]

Re: Canada at the Olypmiad

Of course. He has a high rating so then he must know how the world works as well as how to move those little chess peices. He must already realize that there are many people just sitting around waiting to give their money away to chess players for an unclear return on their investment. I await more of his knowledge to be bestowed upon me.

[Gary Ruben]

Re: Canada at the Olypmiad

Just a reminder that if funding does not come through the B team is ready...

Unofficial pay-your-own-way grassroots team
1st board: Vlad Drkulec
2nd board: Paul Beckwith
3rd board: Gary Ruben
4th board: Ed Seedhouse
5th board: Bob Gillanders
6th board: Paul Bonham

I don't play on B teams.

I recently rejected an invitation to play in a correspondence event organized by Argentina. I think it celebrates their 200 years of independence. The invitation I got (they send it through the federation) was for the B section which is ratings of 2400+ and was only for a category 8 section. I normally play category 9 and higher.

A few years ago their board 1 couldn't beat me in the Pan Am games and now they invite me for a B section. I played the 15 player round robin board undefeated.

A couple of years ago the organizers were having a hard time getting enough teams for the North Atlantic Team Tournament. I let a couple of GM's from nations which didn't have teams know I was playing board 1 and asked if they would be having a team. The teams materialized and the event took place.

I'm prime time! :)

[Paul Beckwith]

Re: Canada at the Olypmiad

Just a reminder that if funding does not come through the B team is ready...

Unofficial pay-your-own-way grassroots team
1st board: Vlad Drkulec
2nd board: Paul Beckwith
3rd board: Gary Ruben
4th board: Ed Seedhouse
5th board: Bob Gillanders
6th board: Paul Bonham

[Kerry Liles]

Re: Canada at the Olypmiad

Kerry,

No, I had to turn the CFC down. No time. I wanted to do it on a percentage basis only. Unfortunately, I have some fixed expenses that cost about $500. I don't want to ask the CFC to pay for this up front with no guarantees of results. So, they should find more people to volunteer; or find someone with time to work on a percentage basis.

David

Thanks for the clarification David. Of course, I did not know the details of any offers that were made or the results of any discussions. I know nothing about 'professional fundraising' but I would have thought that having the organization cover reasonable expenses would be a no-brainer. I had no idea that it might be considered "improper" in some circles. It just seems like (another) lost opportunity.

[Dan Sachs]

Re: Canada at the Olypmiad

You gotta be kidding! Who else should be responsible for attracting sponsors if not the officials chosen to organize and manage the operation?
I mean... what is it you're supposed to be doing?

[David Ottosen]

Re: Canada at the Olypmiad

To more than 99% of us, it is just a game. Go earn your own living. Stop complaining about others. If you want something to change, take up the job yourself.

Uh Brian - this is Jean Hebert that you are talking to. He has been around a long time and knows a lot better than any of us both how the chess world, and the real world, work. I advise you to just stop posting and let the expert educate us.

[Brian Profit]

Re: Canada at the Olypmiad

I personally love how top players are always complaining along the lines of "you guys need to do a better job organizing chess in Canada" and "I can't believe how bad you are at organizing. I would never do it that way!"

All are completely self-serving statements as they would be the main beneficiary of more funding. I sure wouldn't. Why should organizers do things only with them in mind? How about the majority of players who are just playing for fun? Just because they have chosen it as their life's work, doesn't mean everyone should go along for the ride to make things better for them.

I am waiting for the day when they all realize that chess in this country is not an important activity to the masses and even to us most of the time. If they want to promote themselves, let them go and do it. If they want to get someone to sponser them, go do it.

As for complaing about the CFC, the fact that it has never been able to do a better job to give them their Utopian federation should tell them something beyond the fact that the people involved are not competent. There has to be other reasons!

To more than 99% of us, it is just a game. Go earn your own living. Stop complaining about others. If you want something to change, take up the job yourself.

[Egidijus Zeromskis]

Re: Canada at the Olympiad

But if you are right and that they were chosen BECAUSE of their willingness to pay their way, then things are even worse..

I think the team consists of the best players at this moment. Compare the initial team:

Women's team:
Dina Kagramanov (Canadian champion)
Yuanling Yuan (qualified by rating)
Nava Starr (qualified by rating)
Yulia Lacau-Rodean (qualified by rating)
Yelizaveta Orlova (selected by the Selection Committee)

and the final:

Yuanling Yuan,
Dina Kagramanov,
Iulia Lacau-Rodean,
Yelizaveta Orlova,
Dalia Kagramanov.

Thus only one player declined. (There were 3 declines for the National ;)

[Ken Craft]

Re: Canada at the Olypmiad

Has the CFC Executive decided to allow players to pay their own expenses for the Olympiad? I know this has not been discussed by the Governors.

[Jean Hébert]

Re: Canada at the Olympiad

Jean, my point is that since a team has already been formed of players who have agreed to pay their own way they should be allowed to do so.

My understanding is that these players were the top ones accepting to play, and that afterwards they decided to offer to pay for their own way. But if you are right and that they were chosen BECAUSE of their willingness to pay their way, then things are even worse.

If players who refused had known the expenses would be paid the team might be different.

This is exactly why the CFC should not let it go as it is.

I hope you do not think I support the way this has been done.

No, but by saying that they should be allowed to go by paying their own way you are actually encouraging things to be done the same way in the future! If you say A) things should not be done this way, you must say B) it can't be done this way this time.

[Jean Hébert]

Re: Canada at the Olypmiad

Nice, did you notice you just did what I was complaining about?

At this point I am not involved in organizing anything that needs sponsors, so I'm not sure what I need all of your "advice" for?

In case you missed my point, it was that people on here are always preaching that others should go and do this or do that (voluntelling) but virtually never offering to do it themselves without conditions (volunteering).

So unless you want to revise your statement to be more along the lines of "I'd love to use my prestigious titles (Canadian Champion, IM, etc) to help find sponsors for _x_ event, when can I start?" then all you're really doing is proving my point.

It is pretty unbelievable to see someone who signs his messages "President, Ontario Chess Association" write that he has no use for sponsors. Why then would anyone volunteer to help you out find sponsors you have no need for ? Is it that you are not aware of your responsibilities or that you have taken up too much for your actual capabilities ? No one pretending to be an organizer should say (or think) that he has no need for sponsors. It would be like a player saying that he needs no opponents.

Regarding your "point" that for some reason you seem to consider very important to "win", it is a non-starter. Jean Hébert as a player with some achievements, coach, teacher, author is and always has been available to meet and talk to people involved or potentially involved in chess, including organizers and sponsors.

[Gary Ruben]

Re: Canada at the Olympiad

Gary, I am half sorry to say that you actually don't agree with me (and maybe you don't agree with yourself) since that my main point was that players should NOT be allowed to pay their way.

Jean, my point is that since a team has already been formed of players who have agreed to pay their own way they should be allowed to do so.

If players who refused had known the expenses would be paid the team might be different.

I hope you do not think I support the way this has been done.

[Jean Hébert]

Re: Canada at the Olympiad

I agree with Jean on his points. I find myself wondering if a time will come when the Olympic team boards go to the highest bidder.

The players have agreed to pay and I think they should be allowed to do so.

Gary, I am half sorry to say that you actually don't agree with me (and maybe you don't agree with yourself) since that my main point was that players should NOT be allowed to pay their way.

[John Coleman]

Re: Canada at the Olympiad

I wanted to do it [fundraising] on a percentage basis only. David

I was astonished to learn that the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) considers percentage-based fundraising unethical, and has called on the US congress to ban the practice.

If you google, you can read all about it.