Tourney: EHBPC 2012 - Paris - 2012/07/19-21

really??
are u kidding me?!!! what a crappy courts, it isn't serious, more than 1000km just to play, it's rubbish, can't do it better??
hope u improve, or u gonna have to spend too much time looking for balls...

and with just a f.....g tennis ball
:)

well, I guess it's ok if you qualify for the main event...

But yeah, it's not amazing. Easy to abuse organisers though, it's not like anyone else in Europe stepped up to host it.

Hopefully with all the criticism plenty of scenes will be motivated to host it next year.

+1

That's one happy court!

+1

I'm hoping Hannover bid ;)

Yep, the wildcard process has been crippled for this year's Euros.

Fair enough that Paris have had problems in sourcing/securing courts that can also accommodate a wildcard event, but the solution we've been left with this year (one court with 6" boards) is very poor indeed.

I'd like to see the wildcard process restored to how it was it was for the Berlin Worlds, it was awesome (same location as main event, loads of teams, loads of courts, loads of support, etc).

I'd like to see the wildcard process restored to how it was it was for the Berlin Worlds, it was awesome (same location as main event, loads of teams, loads of courts, loads of support, etc).

+1

.

It love the inclusiveness of wildcards, but they must be a bastard to organise, and it sounds like Paris got dumped with the responsibility late in the day.

Maybe if they can't be given similar resources to the main tournament, they shouldn't be done at all? People are going to be livid when they save money, book holiday, and travel a long way to play on inferior courts, with a compromised format, playing for relatively few chances of getting into the main tournament.

It love the inclusiveness of wildcards, but they must be a bastard to organise, and it sounds like Paris got dumped with the responsibility late in the day.

Maybe if they can't be given similar resources to the main tournament, they shouldn't be done at all? People are going to be livid when they save money, book holiday, and travel a long way to play on inferior courts, with a compromised format, playing for relatively few chances of getting into the main tournament.

I would say that the wild-card should be considered an integral part of the tournament. From the organisers point of view, more wild-card teams = more atmosphere on the last day.

Paris decided to go a different way, which they were perfectly entitled to do, and I have no problem with them doing what they feel is necessary to put on a good tournament. I would rather see this arrangement, than no wild-card at all, or, worse, a main tournament that is compromised by having too many teams on too few decent courts.

I would rather be playing on the main event courts than the wild-card court, but I would still rather be playing in the wild-card than not at all.

It love the inclusiveness of wildcards

These are preliminary rounds. There are no hand-picked unqualified teams. How inclusive?

Should be called a satellite tournament, not a wildcard.

Maybe if they can't be given similar resources to the main tournament, they shouldn't be done at all? People are going to be livid when they save money, book holiday, and travel a long way to play on inferior courts, with a compromised format, playing for relatively few chances of getting into the main tournament.

I would rather be playing on the main event courts than the wild-card court, but I would still rather be playing in the wild-card than not at all.

What Bill says.

I'm am more than happy to be playing at Invalides, if it gives me a chance to play in the main event, that I wouldn't have otherwise.

I do also think that it really can't go back to the "turn-up-and-play" style of wildcard (or whatever you want to call it).

Polo is getting bigger and bigger, it's not just a few good teams in the big scenes, and a load of individuals, I think there are now more than 64 proper teams in Europe (and there certainly will be by next year), and if I was in one of those teams, I'd be pissed off if my place had been given to some of sort of first-come-first-served wildcard registration.

I really hope we move to the US style qualifying tournament system. 4 or 5 tournaments around Europe in the spring. If you finish in the top 12 you get to make a team for the Euros (obviously it's slightly more complex than that, but it's the basic idea).

If that doesn't happen, I'd look at ways of integrating the "wildcard" into the main tournament. So say 48 teams in the first round, then the top 24 teams join them in the second round, or something, once half have been knocked out.

There are no can'ts in polo john! I think the big inclusive wildcard is a wicked model for encouraging new teams and individually good players. We haven't been doing this long enough to talk about not going back. The most important thing to me is atmosphere and creating and inspiring environment. The top teams will be the top no matter what. It the lower teams who should be pushed to get to the top. Courts like invalides don't inspire this..not that that was the intention but it is unfortunate to see the lower teams ill considered. That said its hard to set up a tournament like this and make everyone happy.

• if paris could have had the spot for 3 or 4 days, they obviously would have had the wildcard at the same spot.
  

Get those disk brakes out, the forecast has turned.

20 degrees-ish during the day, and showers, generally in the afternoon and evening.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2988507

Looks like the Rat Trap rain dances have been working.

Are those courts for real? I thought Yorgo was joking?

No, it's a joke, Yorgo was having a laugh, they are going to have 30cm barriers. Still not huge, but it's going to be better than that.

Ah, not soo bad then.

Will this be streamed?

no

will there be a challonge link?

Podium.

It was a joke? Really? That's hilarious. Had me sucked in. Was all bummed! Hahaha!

The surface for the wildcard is nice and smooth. I'm sure it will work out good!

It's an half joke, Paris annouced how the wild card will be weeks ago:

http://leagueofbikepolo.com/ehbpc2012#comment-102057

I played the pictured tournament and it was ok, the area and the ground are great.

From what i've heard they will also manage to have board on the right side ( not the side with grass). The grass side will remain the same.