Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Former Member — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 10:11:02 GMT

Statement by British Swimming: www.britishswimming.org/.../

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Former Member — Mon, 09 May 2016 13:57:06 GMT

Entry Lists: euroaquatics2016.london/.../

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Former Member — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 07:52:16 GMT

I heard there is about 23000 entries. OMG

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Gdavis — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 06:15:31 GMT

Get ready for 5 hour lines at accreditation......

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Former Member — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 15:07:32 GMT

Excellent article, thanks.

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Swimspire — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 09:37:54 GMT

This is a good article on the situation: www.pullbuoy.co.uk/.../masters-set-for-day-of-reckoning-over-euro-champs

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

jessicarlondon — Sat, 12 Mar 2016 04:44:13 GMT

Shame on LEN. As an expat American resident of London, I was so looking forward to the possibilities associated with hosting Europeans. I assumed this would replicate the great experiences I've had in Stockholm, Llublijana, and Riccione. Instead they have managed to create a logistical nightmare and incredible ill will with their arrogance. They neither understand nor care a rat's... about Masters swimming. I find it surprising that they were surprised by the popularity of London and the Olympic pool as venue. A major European destination with a great pool and Euro Champs happening too? Seriously? No disrespect to Eindhoven, but it simply doesn't have the same pull. Now swimmers are being forced to reduce their entries to 3 (understandable), however LEN won't say which events are now going to be held in the warm-up pool to accommodate the large number of swimmers (which, BTW is not regulation length when timing equipment is installed). People cannot make an informed choice. The refund policy had to be forced out of them. At first there was no refund policy. All knee-jerk reactions with little to no thought. Entry times are far too easy. Additionally, it seems you don't actually have to prove you can do your entry times (this was one down side to Riccione, where many swims were far slower than the cut-off...not that many people could have that many bad swims in multiple events). There is no policy for reducing the number of swims based on demand (such as USMS Nationals does) or a policy on how many entries for swims that don't make the cut-off. Oh, and we're "sorry" for the inconvenience caused to those of you who have flights/hotels booked that are now out of sync with the days you'll be swimming. Again, swimmers have to suffer the consequences of LEN's organisational ineptitude. Bureaucrats through and through. Such disrespect makes me draw the same conclusion that many have drawn: they care nothing for Masters except the money our events bring in. While it would be a tall order to create a USMS of Europe, I do hope this prompts European masters swimmers to apply pressure to their home country swimming associations to apply pressure to LEN for change.

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Former Member — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 07:45:57 GMT

There is somethings new out there: with recent developments with regards to the demand to enter and take part in the Arena European Masters Championships, LEN and the LOC are able to provide the following update on the plans for the Championships and are able to answer many of the questions that have been asked. When will entries close? The LEN Bureau have approved a request for entries for all disciplines at the Championships to close at midnight on Tuesday March 15. This is in order to enable LEN to send the entry list to Federations for confirmation of competitors’ eligibility to compete in the Championships. Once Federations have confirmed eligibility then the approved entries will enable the LEN Masters Committee to draft the detailed competition schedule which will then be communicated in April (dependent on information being received from the National Federations). What is the policy regarding reducing entries from five or four events to three? The LEN Bureau have approved a change to Regulation MA-SW 1.4 for the 2016 Masters Championships in London in order to provide the maximum opportunity for swimmers from across Europe to participate. The Bureau recognise that this will have an impact on many athletes who were perhaps looking to compete in a range of events. This change sets the maximum number of events in swimming at three. Everyone who entered five or four events during the initial entry period will have until March 15 to choose from which events they will now withdraw. Failure to meet this deadline will result in LEN selecting the events to be withdrawn on your behalf. We strongly advise that you choose from which events you will withdraw by March 15 otherwise you may miss out on swimming your preferred events. When will I get my refund for the one or two events I am no longer entered for? Once all entries have been reduced to a maximum of three LEN will issue to the LOC a list of all persons who are to be refunded and the amount to be refunded. The LOC will then work with PayPal to facilitate this as quickly as possible. Please note, if you wish to withdraw completely from the Championships, in line with LEN Regulation MA-G 2.8, the LOC is not able to refund the admin fee or entry fee for any of the events you have entered. Are coach pass es available for the Championships? LEN regulation MA-G 3.1 identifies those personnel entitled to accreditation and as such coaches will not receive any accreditation. When are spectator tickets going to be made available? Seating capacity at the London Aquatics Centre is extremely limited and as a result spectator tickets for accompanying persons will be available but will be very limited in number. Further information regarding spectator tickets will be communicated once entries close and a full review of the competition schedule has been undertaken. The priority is to ensure that athletes entered in the Championships can be accommodated safely and securely in the venue. The LOC and LEN are working with the venue and authorities to ensure that as many people as possible can be accommodated in the venue in line with all safety requirements. How can I watch family or friends if they are racing in the second pool? The LOC have confirmed to LEN that they shall retain the video board used in the elite championships which shall show (via fixed cameras) the racing taking place in the second pool. The LOC is also exploring other solutions to show the event at locations on or near the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park along with catering provision. Further information will be made available in April. Which pool am I going to be swimming in? Once entries close on March 15, LEN will undertake a full review of the competition schedule and communicate in advance of the Championships which events will be taking place in which pool. More information will be made available in April. What facilities exist in the London Aquatics Centre? The London Aquatics Centre has changed considerably since hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It has two 50m pools, with starting block s at both ends and full electronic timing capabilities. One pool has 10 lanes and is 3m deep, the other is 8 lanes and 2m deep. There are separate changing facilities for both pools already in place, in addition overlay which is being installed for the Elite Championship shall be retained for the Masters Championships in order to accommodate the increased entries. The seating capacity at the venue is 2,800 covering one 50m pool and the diving pool (note a curtain will be installed from the roof to create a separate performance space for the diving and synchronised swimming). Is the competition schedule going to change? The competition schedule of the Championships will not be changing. The London Aquatics Centre will open at 6am each day with swimming sessions set to start at 7:30am each day. The venue will close at 10pm each night. Again, further information will be made available in April. Will warm up facilities be provided at the Championships? Due to the increased demand to participate, warm up facilities provide a challenge for LEN and the LOC but some provision will be made available at the Championships and will be communicated once entries close and a full review of the competition has been undertaken. While you will be able to warm up within the London Aquatics Centre in a limited way, please come prepared to supplement this by warming up elsewhere. I am finding it expensive to find accommodation where can I look? The LOC has managed to secure preferential rates at selected hotels, there is a limit to the length of time the LOC can hold these rooms. If you follow the link on the Masters page this will take you straight to the accommodation booking site provided by the LOC supplier. www.len.eu/.../London 2016 EAC - Masters Communication Questions.aspx

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

sunruh — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 06:03:55 GMT

its event entries not people.

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Former Member — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 13:46:44 GMT

I saw the email today in my inbox. I like the idea to reduce the event number to three and hope they will also heavy increase the standard times... I removed from 200 free and will start in 200m IM, 100m and 200m backstroke.

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Debugger — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 09:57:56 GMT

I'm glad I did 2 LEN European Champs and one of them was in Eindhoven. This year I cannot go and I'm glad I can't - this would be a real stress.... just WOW!!! - 14000 in 2 days! Even in Riccione at Worlds the official number of participants was 12000 including synchronized swimming and dives and that meet was absolutely insane - 2 of my events I swam after 10pm. In Eindhoven the number was around 5000. 14000 - that's just unbelievable!!! :afraid:

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Gdavis — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 07:19:53 GMT

Those who entered early are now also being "kindly requested" (required?) to limit their entries to three events. "Many thanks for registering to compete in swimming at the London 2016 Arena European Masters Championships at the London Aquatics Centre from May 25-29. As I am sure you will know, demand for swimming entries has reached unprecedented levels with double the number of athletes registered compared to Eindhoven. We at LEN believe that the Championships should be open to as many across Europe who are eligible to help celebrate masters swimming. LEN have been overwhelmed by the sheer number of people wishing to come to London but are committed to delivering the best experience possible for all athletes. Following a review of the Championships entries requested by the LEN Bureau, the LEN Masters Committee are now kindly requesting that all those who entered either four or five events during in the initial registration phase from February 8-10 reduce their entry to a maximum of three. This would then ensure that everyone has the same opportunity to race a maximum of three events and help in making the experience beneficial for all. LEN had deeply hoped to be able to fulfil the maximum five swimming entries initially allowed per person however it is clear that doing this would severely impact on the experience for all athletes, whether registered in the initial phase or not. LEN can confirm that full refunds will be made to all athletes reducing their number of events to a maximum of three and all athletes will be able to choose which events they wish to remain entered into and which events they do not."

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Former Member — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 13:14:31 GMT

sounds like a solid plan....(ironic)

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Gdavis — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 06:08:45 GMT

euroaquatics2016.london/.../ "In order to accommodate additional athletes, LEN have agreed that entries will re-open but a limit of three events per person will be in place (entries made previously will not be affected). The system is currently being updated to enable additional entries to be made. LEN anticipate that the system will be ready and entries will open on Thursday 18th February after midday. LEN and the LOC will issue a communication when the system is fully open for swimming entries, including relays. Until entries close the detailed schedule of events each day will not be known. If the numbers increase significantly over than 15,000, both 50m pools in the London Aquatics Centre will have to be utilised for competition (whilst ensuring that there is warm up capacity at specific times in the day). LEN will issue the final programme once start lists have been confirmed."

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Former Member — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 06:02:22 GMT

7pm and there is still nothing out there...quite interessting.

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Gdavis — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 02:34:13 GMT

7pm and there is still nothing out there...quite interessting. From Twitter London 2016 ‏@Aquatics2016 1 hour ago (ie 1:30pm EST) LEN and LOC will issue a full update regarding swimming entries for European Masters Championships tomorrow morning

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Former Member — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 13:39:10 GMT

Unless they might retain some kind of temporary facility that might be being used for the main championships, the only one fairly nearby would be Crystal Palace, and that's well past its best...

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Former Member — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 13:31:40 GMT

There is a rumor about the reopening of the entry page tomorrow. Not sure for how long this will be. There must be a new limit for the capacity also. Maybe there will be a 2nd swimming pool in London for a part of the competition. We will see...

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Former Member — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 13:52:32 GMT

on the german masters-page www.dsv.de/.../ is a comment about the situation: "...The procedure to cut the number of entries to 14000 was a fair soulution, and what happens was unpredictable..." I still can't belive how bad the plan was to let the first 14000 entries in and everybody out who is too late. But NOW going to cancal all entries and make some new entrie-procedure would be poor imo. I mean how can you fix a situation who is just out of your mind? Everybody who is in right now and who would be out after a new procedure would never enter events like this anymore again. He would be pissed of for all time... Maybe you can cut the number of people in every event and every age group to 25 or 30 and let the 5 best people from 2015 in, so that everybody has a chance to swim against the fastes in water and not against the fastest on the internet. But to be honest, there is no wise soulution at the moment.

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Former Member — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 09:18:21 GMT

I am glad they are going to try to make it right.I hope they succeed. Simplest solution would be, once they decide on numbers, criteria etc, to cancel all entries and start again!

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Former Member — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 16:29:26 GMT

I think it will at least spark some debate about what the championship is. The entry times have always been easy, and I think it is good to be inclusive, but when spaces are limited there has to be some kind of way of managing entries. First come, first served means those most connected to social media, to a large degree, because that's how word got round that entries were filling up fast. People are not happy because: They didn't get in and were building their season around it / wanted to challenge etc They got in but their team mates / relay team mates didn't so don't have relay teams They got in but the competition is devalued They didn't get in and had booked accommodation - only option was to book in advance of entries They didn't get in and had booked travel Basically, I think the only swimmers that are happy are the people that think the medal validates the performance, rather than the other way round, and are now in a better position then they would have been.

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Former Member — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 13:22:06 GMT

It is totally insane. On the one side I am glad I could enter at the right time but what about the others who couldn't and have no chance now? I will swim and compete against the best in my age grope in europe!! This is a big shame for the masterwimming competition and it is agaist any sportspirit to make a championchips with the slogan "first come, first served" I think and hope this whole crap will make some noise in and around the swimmigworld.

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Former Member — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 11:53:16 GMT

I know a lot of European swimmers that were too late. Plus lots of relays didn't make it. Crazy! It's a real mess. I think very few continental Europeans will have made it. Very few relay teams will have been entered. Is this the first time organised by LEN? Certainly the first time it is aligned with the elite event. What a nightmare.

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Former Member — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 07:24:32 GMT

there is a official statement from LEN and LOC: "LEN and the LOC have been absolutely overwhelmed by the simply unprecedented interest shown in swimming entries for the Arena European Masters Championships in London in May. Both LEN and the LOC appreciate the great appeal of the Championships with the London Aquatics Centre acting as the venue less than four years after its use during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Three years have also nearly passed since the last European Masters Championships in Eindhoven and, while LEN and the LOC were aware demand for swimming entries would be extremely high, never before have so many entries been filled in such a short space of time. LEN and the LOC appreciate the lengths to which the masters community have gone to in order to be prepared for the Championships – booking flights and accommodation – and we please ask for your patience as we review the situation. Both LEN and the LOC are working hard to find a solution but want to take time to understand how it might be possible to make additional entries available in order to satisfy the overwhelming and simply unprecedented demand. LEN and the LOC are committed to delivering the best experience possible for athletes at the Championships and a solution to fulfill the extremely large demand will be communicated on Tuesday February 16." euroaquatics2016.london/.../

RE: Entries for European Masters in London are open(EDIT:reopen)

Allen Stark — Thu, 11 Feb 2016 04:54:19 GMT

I am glad they are going to try to make it right.I hope they succeed.