Economy Affecting European Championships

[Alan Resinger]

Just noticed that the European Championships that are going on right now had to cut both F2A (Speed) and F2C (Team Race) from the contest due to lack of money to complete the facilities in Belgrade, Serbia.  Guess the economic situation is starting to affect the hobby more than we'd like to believe.  I wouldn't be suprised if next years World Championships isn't affected in some way also.  If facilities aren't already in place, they might be very low priority for some governments.

[john e. holliday]

From what I read on another forum, it is not the economy.  It is the powers to be used the money for something else.  DOC Holliday

[proparc]

From what I read on another forum, it is not the economy.  It is the powers to be used the money for something else.  DOC Holliday

What?

[Steve Helmick]

Maybe there will be a little more caution used when granting approval to a WC bid? Like, for instance, the use of sites that already exist.  Steve

[andreas johansson]

This is the information that the organizers sent out:
--
Dear All,

With great regret, we have to inform you that we have received
information that we will not obtain the money necessary for completion
of the hard circles at Lisiciji jarak where the FAI European Control Line
Championships should be held. The reason is the large amount of money
that has been spent this year on the biggest international sporting
event in the country, the "Universiade" University Games (see:
http://www.universiade-belgrade2009.org/), which is being held in
Belgrade from 01.-12.07.2009. The Ministry of Sport and the City Hall
have no more funds that could be invested in the development of the
circles to meet our needs. Budgets cannot be additionally charged due to
the world economic crisis, because our country is overdebted.

It is a great shock to us as organizers just days before the Competition
that the flying site will not be completed, even though this had been
agreed. Also, due to construction at the military airport, we
cannot hold the Competition there, as we did in 2007. We have
investigated other options, but none are practicable.

As the number of registered competitors is not as expected, we are not able to
fund the finishing of the flying site from Entry fees.

In this very difficult situation,  we are able to hold the Championships
only in 2 categories, F2B and F2D.

We much regret that for the other 2 categories (F2A and F2C) we have to
cancel the Championships. We will return all competitors' entry fees as
well as money paid for their accommodation, and real costs which had already been paid by competitors and officials in anticipation of participation.

Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused by this
cancellation, which is beyond our control.

Best regards,
Ljubomir Radosavljevic
--

/Andreas