[WRTC2006] Geography and selection (long)

[Igor Booklan SRR]

Hi Yuri!

Thanks for putting these questions up.

I will try to asnwer some, sorry not all, of your questions.

Y> First of all let me, too, congratulate our Russian friends and colleagues on
Y> great decision - hosting WRTC-2010! We all appreciate it and realize how
Y> difficult it might be to organize such an event. It looks like
Y> WRTC-2010 might offer a unique opportunity - the most equal playing field
Y> possible, if the
Y> competition will be conducted on the same basis as Russian annual HF
Y> radiosport championships. The environment is similar to Field Day - the team
Y> would need to spend at least one night "outdoor" - in a tent. So probably
Y> not everyone, especially those who are used to operating from comfy A/C'ed
Y> villa in Caribbean, would enjoy this...

Don't worry guys. Will get you maximum comfort conditions possible.
The tent you gonna stay in is really big and comfortable one.
There will be WC cabin at each location and wather ssupply :))

We are planning to get competitors to their locations starting 5-6 a.m.
Since the planned WRTC hotel is quite close to the fields and the
contest starts at 4:00 p.m. you would have 8-10 hours before contest
to set your rigs up. 

Y> Even in July Moscow nights could be cool and mosquitoes are still
Y> active at this time of the year...

It is usually up to 15-20 degrees C at night and 20-30 at the day time
depending, so the same kind of weather we had in Finland 2002.

Y> I was fortunate once to take part in similar competition called
Y> "Stars Of The Air" in 1991 near St. Petersburg and still keep good
Y> memories about it. 

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

Y> 1. Geographical area.

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

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

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

Y> Other areas:

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

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

Y> 2. Contest listing and points.

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

We are discussing SPRINT issue now. Please be patient !!!

Y> 3. Selection of Team Mate.

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

Read the rules and rare ares exceptions:

Conditions for team mate (TM)

TM must have permanent residence of the same country as their TL and
from the date of the first submitted contest result.
Exception: TL from African, Central American or Pacific entity can
choose TM from another country, but from the same selection area.

As to the question of Ranko we are discussing this question now too.
The possible decision is to allow such cases for small nations and by
request ONLY !! It means WRTC committee will have a right to reject
the request. Again, this is under discussion yet. Thanks for Ranko for
pointing this subject!

Y> 4. Referees.

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

Y> I don't know, maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to re-think some of the
Y> criteria's. Or maybe return to the "wild card" idea introduced before
Y> WRTC-2000 in Slovenia... I don't know.

Will it be OK for you guys if we say that each Team Leader will chose
(responsible to chose) his Team Referee from the "wild card" list?

It is absolutely not nesessary to chose Team Referee from your own
country/area, so anyone can apply.

Team Referee will be sent to judge another team!!

Example:
Team Leader RX1XX choses his Team Referee LA1AA.
After WRTC drawings LA1AA can not be a judge for RX1XX team.

Y> Anyway, I appreciate very much Russians' decision to publish rules so early.
Y> As I said, just decided to share my thoughts. Just MHO.
Y> I'm sure organizers will make the best decision possible and we all will
Y> enjoy another unforgettable event in 3 years time!
Y> Thank you for reading.

Y> 73  Yuri UT4UZ / VE3DZ

73s, Harry RA3AUU