[WRTC2006] Geography and selection (long)

[Georgens, Tom]

Yuri Yuri Yuri

I know you did not mean me by this comment

>>>especially those who are used to operating from comfy A/C'ed villa in
Caribbean

You have operated from my station and know there is no A/C.  If I
remember right, you mentioned the heat  :-)   

I should add that it is not uncommon to have insects walk across the
computer monitor and rain so loud that it trips the VOX.

Just having a little fun

73, Tom W2SC

-----Original Message-----
From: Yuri [mailto:ve3dz em rac.ca] 
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2007 4:30 PM
To: WRTC 2006
Subject: [WRTC2006] Geography and selection (long)

First of all let me, too, congratulate our Russian friends and
colleagues on great decision - hosting WRTC-2010! We all appreciate it
and realize how difficult it might be to organize such an event. It
looks like WRTC-2010 might offer a unique opportunity - the most equal
playing field possible, if the competition will be conducted on the same
basis as Russian annual HF radiosport championships. The environment is
similar to Field Day - the team would need to spend at least one night
"outdoor" - in a tent. So probably not everyone, especially those who
are used to operating from comfy A/C'ed villa in Caribbean, would enjoy
this... Even in July Moscow nights could be cool and mosquitoes are
still active at this time of the year...
I was fortunate once to take part in similar competition called "Stars
Of The Air" in 1991 near St. Petersburg and still keep good memories
about it.

Harry  RA3AUU  is 150%  right saying that it is impossible to create
completely fair selection criteria. Same with so-called geographical
areas. However there are few things that strikes one's eye and I can't
resist from sharing some thoughts with respectful members of this
reflector.

1. Geographical area.

AFRICA Area #1 - ZS 1 team
ASIA Area #1   -  JA 1 team
OCEANIA Area # 1 - VK/ZL
NA Area #5 - VE 1 team

Lets take a look at the number of submitted SO AB Unassisted WW CW 2005
LOGs from these countries:
JA - 230
VE - 75
VK/ZL - 21
ZS - 7

With all due respect, reserving 1 team for ZS does not seem to be fair,
considering the number of contesters in this country. I bet nobody would
name more than 2-3 active contesters from South Africa in total.
I don't want to look like another 'gimme' guy, but if we look at NA Area
#5, it is obvious that guys from VE4,5,6,7 and 8th call areas have no
chances against East Coast Canada...

Other areas:

AFRICA area # 2 (other than ZS) - 1 team OCEANIA area #2 (other than
VK/ZL) - 1 team

I think we might find just very few contesters from those areas, I mean
real local residents. Maybe in CT3, EA8/9, CN and KH6...
Well, if (like at some previous WRTC) Russian organizers want to have
"Ham Radio Olympics", then it explains everything. But if they want to
collect the best Worldwide operators, the above area creation leaves big
questionmark...

2. Contest listing and points.

I like Sprints and I participate in them whenever possible. But again,
with all dues respect, how could you even put them in same line with
contests like CQ WW, WPX, IARU, ARRL DX and WAE??? A 4-hour 3-band
Contest with about 200 participants...
And what is more - giving for this contests more points than for WPX,
IARU, ARRL DX and WAE??? I suspect there are strong lobbyists of NA
Sprint in the WRTC Advisory Committee, but sorry -  I just don't get how
a 4-hour 3-band Contest with about 200 participants could be more
important than more popular and more difficult  WPX, IARU, WAE or ARRL
DX...

3. Selection of Team Mate.

Ranko YT6A already asked this question. IMHO limiting TL to choosing a
team mate from the same country could be a VERY difficult task. Just
take a look at some of the areas mentioned in (1)...

4. Referees.

I think it was a good idea to give a chance of being a referee to those
who, for some reasons, wasn't able it make it as a participant. We know
all of the referees at the previous WRTC (well, almost all) are top
notch contesters.

I don't know, maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to re-think some of the
criteria's. Or maybe return to the "wild card" idea introduced before
WRTC-2000 in Slovenia... I don't know.
Anyway, I appreciate very much Russians' decision to publish rules so
early.
As I said, just decided to share my thoughts. Just MHO.
I'm sure organizers will make the best decision possible and we all will
enjoy another unforgettable event in 3 years time!
Thank you for reading.

73  Yuri UT4UZ / VE3DZ


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