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Post by reut on Jun 5, 2016 8:44:08 GMT 1
Staring a new thread There will be an interview in the July/August edition of "International Figure Skating": I don't have subscription. But I hope some fan will share this with us?
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Post by taipeifollowers on Jun 13, 2016 4:13:29 GMT 1
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Post by jomeku on Jun 13, 2016 9:46:32 GMT 1
The article says that the duo Stephane Lambiel and Peter Grütter had applied to run the skating school of 'Les Vernets' in Geneva. But last Thursday it was known that this candidacy was turned down, the former French champion Vanessa Gusmeroli was preferred. This choice of the City of Geneva causes controversy among many. Peter Grütter, very disappointed, after 40 years of working at 'Vernets' decided to retire. The head of the Sports Department of the City of Geneva claims that the decision was made according to specific criteria: So far five skating coaches - among them Vanessa Gusmeroli and Peter Grütter - had worked at 'Vernets' very independently with different courses, taxes and services, and the Sports Department wanted to bring order into the system, with the same rules for all and specifications. The City of Geneva, through its 'Service of Sport' decided to contest the management of the skating school of 'Vernets' through a call for tenders. They got four proposals and Vanessa Gusmeroli's candidacy was chosen for the general concept of the project, the transparency of it's pricing and the setting up of coaches. Stéphane Lambiel not sufficiently qualified? "Unlike Vanessa Gusmeroli he does not have the Swiss Olympic diploma. And He wouldn't have been as present as her at Vernets", the chief of Sports Department said. But "It's not all lost for him. The convention has been signed for two years. Then a new call for tender will be launched". .... Many commentaries to the article from people who cannot understand this decision at all.
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Post by reut on Jun 13, 2016 10:37:27 GMT 1
I understood that one of the reasons they decided against Stephane was that he doesn't have formal education and diploma as a coach. Which is reasonable, I think. In comments I see people mostly angry that City chose someone foreign, French, over someone local, Swiss. But Vanessa lives just near Geneva, though in French part. And she worked in Vernets for many years already. Hard to see her as "foreign", especially because formalities to become Swiss are very strict and hard.
I was a bit surprised that Stephane wanted to take this on himself, in addition to all the other things he does. Probably it was mostly to support Peter?
They wrote there that this decision is for two years. So in two years Stephane might have another chance if he wants. I'm afraid it might be late for Peter though... Sorry to hear that he wants to retire. I hope he will be involved more in Champéry.
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Post by jomeku on Jun 13, 2016 11:29:47 GMT 1
Without knowing any background facts and stories, I can somehow understand this decision. But also the disappointment of Peter Grütter. As you say, Reut, Vanessa Gusmeroli has been working at 'Vernets' for a long time and Mr Grütter is in the evening of his career. I do not know if this 'Swiss Olympic diploma' is so important, but certainly Vanessa Gusmeroli has many years of coaching experience. And as Stéphane (hopefully for looooong!) will continue to travel the world for shows and has his school in Champéry, it's certainly true that he might not be as present in Vernets as her. But as it's said, new invitation for bids and new chance in two years. I'm sorry for Mr Grütter, too, and it's heart-warming to see how they support each other. Certainly the two would be a good chance for the reputation of the skating school at Vernets, attracting many, many talents. But will Mr Grütter still want to be active in two years, he will be 76 by then, if I'm not wrong. I can understand the polemic a bit though, because ... Stéphane Lambiel is Stéphane Lambiel ... and not taking him (and Mr Grütter) in Geneva is a bit as if Switzerland would reject an offer of Roger Federer to run an official tennis school in Switzerland. I guess it's a pragmatic decision and not a "The prophet is not honored in the own country"- decision. At least I hope so.
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Post by taipeifollowers on Jun 14, 2016 2:51:11 GMT 1
Thank you for your explanation, reut and jomeku, of course, I hope Stephane is the first choice, but I'm really curious how much time he has? Even if he loves to work and always non-stop! In addition, I also feel sorry to hear the news of retired of Peter coach. Another news : mcge.ch/vernets-scandaleuse-eviction-de-stephane-lambiel/
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Post by jomeku on Jun 14, 2016 11:58:23 GMT 1
www.tdg.ch/geneve/actu-genevoise/decu-lambiel-mauvaise-fortune-bon-coeur/story/24182296(...) Stéphane, currently in Japan, reacts through his spokeswoman, Anna-Sophie Thilo, wanting to calm things down: "I do not want to inflame the situation. Accepting defeat is part of the uncertainties in sport". The fact remains that Stéphane Lambiel and his former successful coach Peter Grütter are disappointed with the result. "We have responded to the call for applications launched by Sports Services by offering an ambitious project that was meant innovative", says Anne-Sophie Thilo. "We were very motivated and confident in our case, with as only motivation "the well-being of young skaters". The two men wish every success to the new school. Looking forwards, they will continue their work of developing the training center in Champéry, "always with the same enthusiasm". (....)
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Post by taipeifollowers on Jun 15, 2016 1:47:27 GMT 1
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Post by jomeku on Jun 15, 2016 15:07:48 GMT 1
Taipeifollowers Nothing new in this last article, actually. (Only I sadly see that some sectors use Stéphane's case for their politics, I'm afraid ). Let's spend our time with more positive things, for example with Stéphane on the ice (this should be in 'Shows Asia' tread actually, but I feel like cheering up things here a bit with Johnny's instagram from Japan : www.instagram.com/p/BGqVZ0Xhhch/
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Post by reut on Jun 15, 2016 17:05:19 GMT 1
I agree absolutely. What saddens me the most that people clearly are using Stéphane's name and this situation for their own political fights with the current governing body and to prove their own political views...
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Post by jomeku on Jun 15, 2016 17:17:59 GMT 1
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Post by taipeifollowers on Jun 16, 2016 11:10:22 GMT 1
Agree. And watched Johnny's instagram, my guess, they practice for Artistry on ice? Like last year, Stephane spin with Johnny!!! Looking forward this new program.(Or they're just playing...)
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Post by reut on Jun 22, 2016 8:34:06 GMT 1
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Post by jomeku on Jun 23, 2016 8:50:49 GMT 1
Thank you, Reut. Stéphane seems more disappointed than what it looked like some days ago in his first reaction. And "moved by the despair of the skaters and their parents", as he says in the interview (from Japan). They are in contact with the town office to bring up the matter again "so that the (skating) club can regain its serenity".
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Post by reut on Jun 23, 2016 18:57:07 GMT 1
Stéphane sounds quite hurt in this interview. He hinted that he deserved to get diploma faster (?) because he is a champion. But I don't agree with it, many big champions are actually pretty bad coaches; you have to learn to be a teacher. And I don't see anything bad in the fact that he is expected to learn too and to pass exams. I didn't quite understand why it takes so long though - 5 years ("Cela fait deux ans que je me forme et dans trois ans, si tout se passe bien, je serai certifié professeur de la relève Jeunesse+Sport.")
Stéphane is a very ambitious person obviously (grand champions have to be otherwise they never achieve big things), and I guess he saw this as an opportunity to make a big step up as Champéry is a nice place but very small and still has a long way to go. But I don't quite get the "despair" - his, Peter's, "skaters and parents". What was so "bad" that happened now? Somehow it was hard for me to understand French in this interview and a few things were quite vague. I don't understand, for example, why they couldn't stay and continue teaching there even if Vanessa is a new director. His answer to their question about it: "Le Service des sports de la Ville a clairement rejeté notre projet avec nos valeurs. C’est franchement une fausse invitation de nous dire à présent qu’on ne nous repousse pas." Sounds not logical and a bit like hurt ego talking and not a wise young man I know...
"Les liens avec un coach sont même indispensables, or Vanessa veut, de son propre aveu, y mettre un terme pour privilégier des cours collectifs." - do I understand it right that Vanessa wants to cancel private 1-on-1 lessons at all?? Sounds strange.
I really didn't like the xenophobic tone this discussion took in comments and in articles, so I was glad when Stéphane answered that nationality is not the matter here.
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