SOME ROUGHLY-TRANSLATED STÉPHANE (AND EUROS/SWISS DELEGATION) NEWS FOR YOU
(unfortunate accompanying picture is unfortunate...)
Young Swiss team for the European Figure Skating Championships
By Philipp Rindlisbacher. Updated at 07:46.
In just three weeks, the European Figure Skating Championships begin in Bern. Around 30,000 spectators are expected.
From the 24th until the 30th of January, the European Figure Skating Championships take place in Bern. For once, it is not duels and soundchecks in the Post Finance Arena, but rather the artistic aspect of skaters in the foreground. According to OC President Roland Wehinger, the advance sale goes well, and the last three days of competition (including the skating exhibition) are nearly sold out. Wehniger anticipates around 30,000 spectators. There are 7,500 tickets for seats on sale for each day, and standing room may not be sold according to the regulations of the World Association ISU. The price includes one round-trip ticket from any Swiss town to Bern on the valid entry date of the ticket (area via route of General subscriptions, 2nd Class). In addition, the ticket entitles you to attend the training session.
The Swiss delegation at the home European Championships comprises seven skaters. For the women, Sarah Meier (26) and Romy Bühler (16), and for the men, Laurent Alvarez (20), Stéphane Walker (20) join Moris Pfeiffhofer (22). In ice dancing, Ramona Elsener (18) and Florian Roost (21) attend; in pairs skating, the host is not represented, as there currently is not a pair of international standard. Meier and Alvarez are set for the short program, but the remaining skaters must qualify in the preliminary round taking place for the first time at the competition.
Meier is doing better
Plagued for months by injury problems, Sarah Meier is doing better, and her foot injury seems largely cured. The European vice-champion of 2007 and 2008 did not compete yet this season, but before Christmas she took part in some show events. In the Helvetic young ensemble, she may be the only athlete who can compete with the best. For the remaining skaters, qualifying for the actual competition would be an equal success.
Meanwhile, the retired Stéphane Lambiel and Jamal Othman will perform ambassadorial functions, and will tend to the care of invited guests. The two-time world champion Lambiel will also appear on the French-speaking station TSR as a co-commentator; the Berner Othman will help with reporting for Swiss German television and participate in the show-running.
(source)
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Stéphane Lambiel is there!
BERN - Stéphane Lambiel will skate at the European Figure Skating Championships in Bern - in the exhibition.
By Micha Zbinden | updated at 11:13 | 01/05/2011
With the participation of Stéphane Lambiel, the European Figure Skating Championships in Bern (from the 24th of January) is enhanced dramatically.
As Blick.ch has exclusively learned, Lambiel just received the start-authorization of the International Skating Union ISU. And also with the Swiss association the Romand financially was able to agree. The written contract is signed and sealed.
Therefore, the two-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist from Turin will delight the Berner fans on the 30th of January, 2011, in the much noted skating exhibition in Bern's Post Finance Arena.
And also the organizers are happy: Next to Sarah Meier, they can present a second, prominent Swiss hallmark.
Lambiel will serve moreover at the European Championship on home soil as a co-commentator for Swiss-television TSR and as an ambassador. He will personally look after IOC President Jacques Rogge, Adolf Ogi, and Ueli Maurer.
(source)
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Lambiel skates in the exhibition in Bern
Updated at 12:03.
The Valais ice prince takes part in the European Figure Skating Championships, from the 23rd until the 30th of January in Bern - in the concluding exhibition.
The OC and the Swiss Ice Skating Union (Swiss Skating) received a special permit from the International Union (ISU) to allow Stéphane Lambiel to skate in the skating exhibition show on the 30th of January. The 25-year-old Lambiel, who accompanies TSR as co-commentator and ambassador for the European Championships, retired from contests and competitions and now enthusiastically skates in reviews and galas.
For the European Championships in the Swiss capital, IOC President Jacques Rogge was is also announced.
(source)
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(Translations from a mix of google translate and freetranslation.com, slightly massaged by me when they were completely ridiculous. I welcome corrections!)
***There are many more articles about Swiss skaters and the event in general beginning to appear in the Swiss press as Euros draw nearer.***
ETA: There are already more articles appearing about the news that he is skating, but they don't really say anything new.
24heures (a bit of extra info on which events are popular, why Stéphane had to petition for permission)
TSR (bare-bones announcement)
CDT (possibly just a translation of the 24heures link into Italian - the content is basically identical. LOL @ "has not the slightest intention of returning to competition" in the google translation.)
NZZ (with more on why he'd been blocked from ISU events and had to petition)
Berner Zeitung (this one goes much more in-depth into the difficulties they had getting permission and how they finally convinced the ISU)