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Post by Pascal Girard on Sept 20, 2012 17:22:06 GMT -5
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Post by Vazgen Soghoyan on Sept 20, 2012 17:23:08 GMT -5
Simon, in 2015 USA Worlds, can I go to the airport to meet Brazilian officials? I'll provide their transportation for the whole event.
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Post by Pascal Girard on Sept 20, 2012 17:24:30 GMT -5
everyatimes that worlds are organised in a not hight economic country its the same deal, so when u have to pay at the organisator the rooms and not at the reception desk, its some craps anyway---
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Post by Vazgen Soghoyan on Sept 20, 2012 17:26:38 GMT -5
everyatimes that worlds are organised in a not hight economic country its the same deal, so when u have to pay at the organisator the rooms and not at the reception desk, its some craps anyway--- Well said.
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Post by Bill Collins on Sept 20, 2012 17:34:39 GMT -5
I loved covering the worlds... but I get tired of going there and continually told I can't film on the stage. When Discovery channel showed up with a days notice and was given permission along with a young assistant who didn't even know armwrestling was a sport and given full access to whatever... AND WHAT CAME OF IT. I just about had enough. I was dying to go to Brazil...but ultimately no one at WAF sees a future with ARM TV in it so we are making our own arrangements for future content. Stay tuned. No disrespect Gary, but big difference between Discovery and ArmTV..I also would take the chance Discovery over ArmTV, but that's me and the risk we take..Both organization having the same objectives "making money"... It easy for all of you to bash WAF, until you put on a worlds and work hand in hand, most of you don't have a clue... Putting on the 2010 WAF Worlds was a serious challange, with the help of Ginger, Simon, Denise & Leonard I was told by WAF it was the best organized WORLDS they had in 10 years...Oddly enough, I'll give it another crack for 2015, with an expanded team to set the bar like no other. It's very important to support the host hotel as the World comes with a 35k-40k price tag and without the help of the customer (pullers) it tough to have this event, of course none of us like getting the shaft on a crapping over priced room.. WAF relies on the host country to comply with contract specs, when WAF make a site visit and all is good, they stay in contact with the host. Very pro active..getting feed back from host country Somewhere in that path the host country falls short and does not make WAF aware of the short falling, now what? The world is here and it's difficult to find host hotels that can house 3300 room nights..It become reactive... The host country is responsible if changes are made mid stream, transportation included...and WAF should oversee these changes IF NOTIFIED. Most worlds the registration (hotel), host site hotel and transportation been a nightmare...I can honestly USA had there s h i t together for the most part...and 2105 will be better..
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Post by Vazgen Soghoyan on Sept 20, 2012 17:48:32 GMT -5
Bill, You and The Team, did great job in 2010! Everything worked fine. Our guests had so many options in hotels, food, entertinement. Brazil had 10% percent of that...
Just one example. In Mesquite, I was in Casablanca lobby when Kyrgizstan ( or Tajikistan) guys arrived. They had not enough money to stay there, and I told them that they can stay in Virgin River for less. And it was just 1,5 miles away. I took them there by my own car, helped them at the front desk in translation and when they heard that they can stay for $35 a night, they were jumping from happiness. They were so thankful. Next day I saw them driving a new minivan rental car coming from shopping!!! This was America for them! Compare to "samba"....
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Post by Gary Roberts on Sept 20, 2012 18:10:21 GMT -5
No disrespect to you Bill and I didn't Bash WAF. WAF put me in my place and that is fine. if it is below an assistant Discovery Channel helper who never looked at armwrestling again after that weekend so be it. I understand all of the rules and why.. but I gotta decide where to put my efforts. I love what you do for the sport and I continue to love the worlds... mesquite may be the only exception as to my expenses being low but no other worlds brought in enough membership to cover expenses so other worlds were at a loss. I continue to belleve my coverage is the best above all else so I vouch for my work and the discovery channel guy was just a little annoying factoid. many many other things have led me to that choice... Any person running a world championships has a million things on their mind that they can't be worried about a little thing like myself... I understand... but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to look back at the years of waf since 2003 and see who had the most in depth...what happened that weekend action packed clips> so we can disagree on where we put the value of details on an event. Its like a wedding...the videography is always the last thing to get budgeted in...but it is the most lasting part of it. I accept this. again...love what you do and will continue to cover your events if you allow me...and as my things grow.. I'll continue to call you because I value what you do and what you bring... allow me to have my opinion regarding what I can bring to a World Championships without disrespecting our friendship. Sincerely, Gary this is a favorite clip of mine that I love to this day... it sells armwrestling...it sells the worlds... it is something I loved to do. It is something that other years of worlds don't always get... and it didn't cost WAF anything. I think it is a good value.
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Post by Bill Collins on Sept 20, 2012 18:11:15 GMT -5
Bill, You and The Team, did great job in 2010! Everything worked fine. Our guests had so many options in hotels, food, entertinement. Brazil had 10% percent of that... Just one example. In Mesquite, I was in Casablanca lobby when Kyrgizstan ( or Tajikistan) guys arrived. They had not enough money to stay there, and I told them that they can stay in Virgin River for less. And it was just 1,5 miles away. I took them there by my own car, helped them at the front desk in translation and when they heard that they can stay for $35 a night, they were jumping from happiness. They were so thankful. Next day I saw them driving a new minivan rental car coming from shopping!!! This was America for them! Compare to "samba".... I understand, Brazil sounded so attractive for great memories, Great story and many thanks for aways wanting to help, it should be a team effort, I also was surprised when people showed up with no money and can't afford food... You displayed what host country members should do, my point it was you, not WAF that helped, representing USA...WAF can only try to fix what is broke (in advance if aware) and if WAF gets surprised when they arrive, WAF can only do the best they can to fix things...the host country is a big part of the pit falls... I can make a list of the host counties responsibilities but it will take 4 pages, the host country enters a contract and WAF expects them to comply..
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Post by Bill Collins on Sept 20, 2012 18:21:51 GMT -5
No disrespect to you Bill and I didn't Bash WAF. WAF put me in my place and that is fine. if it is below an assistant Discovery Channel helper who never looked at armwrestling again after that weekend so be it. I understand all of the rules and why.. but I gotta decide where to put my efforts. I love what you do for the sport and I continue to love the worlds... mesquite may be the only exception as to my expenses being low but no other worlds brought in enough membership to cover expenses so other worlds were at a loss. I continue to belleve my coverage is the best above all else so I vouch for my work and the discovery channel guy was just a little annoying factoid. many many other things have led me to that choice... Any person running a world championships has a million things on their mind that they can't be worried about a little thing like myself... I understand... but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to look back at the years of waf since 2003 and see who had the most in depth...what happened that weekend action packed clips> so we can disagree on where we put the value of details on an event. Its like a wedding...the videography is always the last thing to get budgeted in...but it is the most lasting part of it. I accept this. again...love what you do and will continue to cover your events if you allow me...and as my things grow.. I'll continue to call you because I value what you do and what you bring... allow me to have my opinion regarding what I can bring to a World Championships without disrespecting our friendship. Sincerely, Gary No doubt in my mind what you and ArmTV brings to the table and the experience that comes with it..and your always welcomed at my events.. WAF is under new direction and the BIG difference between the old and the new, is the old was trying to get the worlds broad-casted, but lacking contacts etc...the new is under the direction of Assen and he has a major in communication and has the knowledge and the contract to broadcast, so all side line filming may come to a halt, even if it's in USA, as it's a WAF event and USA has very little say....Keep doing what you do best, love ArmTV.
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Post by Gary Roberts on Sept 20, 2012 18:23:49 GMT -5
and I figured as much so I didn't even bother to ask this year... its all good, I will see you in a few weeks.. and I wish them the best... but to my point.. the first person assan should hire for his team is me... I am one cheap f'ing date... but no one figures that out.
and no disrspect to scott...I love scott, we work well together.. I know he is on the team..but I have always felt worlds is too big for one guy to stress over for an entire week.. and if I wasn't the number one guy for streaming or later broadcast...certainly number two guy..
and one of these days we will all recognize there can be two markets that don't have an overall negative impact either way. filming for televisioN AND armwrestlers doesn't have to be a one or nothing proposal.
... and sorry for hijacking this thread.
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Post by Eric Wolfe on Sept 20, 2012 19:34:43 GMT -5
Ok, I agree with Bill that this is not a WAF issue, but a host country issue.. At best, WAF can only react to the issues as they occure just as the rest of us do. But this hotel scam should most certainly be a serious issue to be covered at future worlds, such as proper disclosure of location, condition, quality, and amenities. Also, the WAF could ask for partial refunds from the Brazil host for all those that over paid for their hotel.. so as Bill states, WAF is not the reason for the problems, but I still feel that WAF is the interface to comunicate to the Brazil host that we do not appreciate what happened. Just as we all expect good services for our money here in the US, we expect the same over seas as well. So, what is the hotel really worth? What are comparable prices at the surrounding hotels? If the athletes were indeed over priced and duped by the host, then I do feel that the WAF could take the lead in asking for some money back from the host.
As far as transportation goes, I travel to 3rd world countries for a living as part of my job.. It should not be that hard to schedule on time transport for several hundered people arriving at an airport.. This also was not the WAFs fault, but falls solely on the shoulders of the host country. Again, the WAF can take the lead in voicing the dissatisfaction to the Host county... especially since they would not even return calls or emails to those that were attempting to reach them.
On the filming note in Nevada, I got in trouble for this already, but I never did understand why Gary was not permitted to do his thing on stage.. this guy can shoot video at 2 tables better than Clint Eastwood can shoot at 2 rustlers trying to get at the sheriff's wife! Who cares if the discovery channel is there, let Gary do his thing and allow the Armwrestlers to get what they prize the most... Good memories of their matches! ( go easy on me here Bill)
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Post by Bill Collins on Sept 20, 2012 20:13:03 GMT -5
Ok, I agree with Bill that this is not a WAF issue, but a host country issue.. At best, WAF can only react to the issues as they occure just as the rest of us do. But this hotel scam should most certainly be a serious issue to be covered at future worlds, such as proper disclosure of location, condition, quality, and amenities. Also, the WAF could ask for partial refunds from the Brazil host for all those that over paid for their hotel.. so as Bill states, WAF is not the reason for the problems, but I still feel that WAF is the interface to comunicate to the Brazil host that we do not appreciate what happened. Just as we all expect good services for our money here in the US, we expect the same over seas as well. So, what is the hotel really worth? What are comparable prices at the surrounding hotels? If the athletes were indeed over priced and duped by the host, then I do feel that the WAF could take the lead in asking for some money back from the host. As far as transportation goes, I travel to 3rd world countries for a living as part of my job.. It should not be that hard to schedule on time transport for several hundered people arriving at an airport.. This also was not the WAFs fault, but falls solely on the shoulders of the host country. Again, the WAF can take the lead in voicing the dissatisfaction to the Host county... especially since they would not even return calls or emails to those that were attempting to reach them. On the filming note in Nevada, I got in trouble for this already, but I never did understand why Gary was not permitted to do his thing on stage.. this guy can shoot video at 2 tables better than Clint Eastwood can shoot at 2 rustlers trying to get at the sheriff's wife! Who cares if the discovery channel is there, let Gary do his thing and allow the Armwrestlers to get what they prize the most... Good memories of their matches! ( go easy on me here Bill) LOL but i agree with most of everything you said, as for transportation, flights all over the board as not all fly in group or the same times....For the 2010 world D&L were at the arrival and I was at the registration, no matter how prepared it still was a nightmare, but we worked through it..D&L accommodated the transportation so people would not be waiting at the airport, the transportation cost 24K instead of 12K, the host country can charge 20 per round trip, we brought in 7K, as you can see this area is the most complex and the biggest headache. D&L did a great job trying to please everyone, no matter what the cost, you can't please them all but you can sure feel their pain and help the best possible... I'm sure WAF is addressing this issue with the host country as there are a lot of pissed off people, then again if the host country lost money, WAF will not get a dime and if they do none of you will see a refund, unless you deal with the host country directly.. Keep in mind the host country does all the work up to the event, the day of the event WAF taks over (staff & operations) so the host country has very little power...and is supposed to have everything linned up for the take over... as per filming the host country has very little power.
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Post by Brent Norris on Sept 20, 2012 22:25:55 GMT -5
It is both a WAF and host country issue if they're in contract to serve the "customer." And, if they don't comply what will the authority of the WAF do? If a customer continues to be sold a bill of goods and not what is advertised, will they continue to shop there?
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Post by Marcin Mielniczuk on Sept 21, 2012 8:52:35 GMT -5
I'm happy to see this opinions. Its really usefull for next year in my country and my city.
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Post by Steve Inzalaco on Sept 21, 2012 9:09:22 GMT -5
Gary,
Discovery Channel had been trying to get footage of armwrestlers for a couple months, as they were there to only film it to prove the type of Grip Strength Pullers have. They are working on a production about longevity in life and how a person with a strong grip can live a longer life than your person who does not have a strong grip. In addition they are trying to prove to the Discovery Channel Viewers just that! Not to give the viewers what ArmTv gives to their viewers. Discovery could have used another Grip Sport as an example but chose Armwrestling TO PROVE THEIR THEORY that Grip Strength IN GERNERAL can lead into a longer duration of life.
Discovery Contacted me, interviewed me and wanted to film me and people I train with so they can have some armwrestling footage. I talked with the Producer and Director and at first they were only limited to film ONLY IN LOS ANGELES. But it's obvious their budget for their restrictions got a higher budget to travel for this particular Discovery Episode. Yet I think they got the greatest pullers around to film, but they also got to see what majority of the pullers are saying and that is a $hitty Venue and enviroment.
Anyways if anybody wants some emails I have from them (Discovery) just let me know.
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