The day of opening ceremonies and WRTC2002 Dinner
On the Bus with WRTC - #2 - 11 July 2002
Yesterday was a fun day - introductions, bus rides, cold beer (there's a heat wave in Finland this week), and great food. Now we are seeing the serious side of the competition.
Starting after dinner on Wednesday, both the competitors and referees had the first of a series of meetings to review the rules of the game. All of the competitors want to make the most of every technique available to them, but none want to be disqualified or appear dishonest. Similarly, the referees want to know exactly how to interpret the rules and what to do in case of a perceived infraction.
There are a LOT of detailed, knowledgable questions from both. For example, the question arose, "In the 10-minute QRT period before the contest, can the competitors be listening to the bands?" (The rules are posted on the WRTC Web site, www.wrtc2002.org.) This might seem a small thing, but it would allow the team to prepare a "band map" of multipliers (ITU zones or HQ stations). They could then start the contest with enough knowledge to put several multipliers in the log that may not be available later. All teams should be allowed to listen during the QRT period or all should be equally forbidden to do so. It was decided that listening was forbidden until the starting bell rings at 1200Z.
The participants are seasoned contesters - both those operating the stations and those charged with monitoring rule enforcement. These people are clever and motivated to do their best. It is in the interest of the sport to have clear rules and fair enforcement, so a lot of time is spent in the days before the contest judging these unobvious cases. In a "spinoff" effect, the questions being raised and answered at WRTC can also be applied in many cases to regular contesting. By having the top competitors meet at one place, as with WRTC, the exchange of views and decisions can happen in minutes, instead of across contest seasons.
A new feature of WRTC that has raised some interesting issues this year is the Real-Time Scoreboard. (check the WRTC2002 Web site for details) For the first time, the competitor's claimed scores will be available to the general public (and contest participants) world-wide DURING THE CONTEST via a Web page. The referees are charged with using the Finnish GSM mobile phone system to send a short text message once an hour with the team score. The SMS (Short Messaging Service) is used to transmit the information, which is delivered automatically to a computer. The score is then retrieved from the message and added to the on-line data base, where it is posted as a large bar chart for viewing. It will be updated on the Web every 30 seconds, with most score changes occuring within a few minutes of the top of the hour.
This is truly groundbreaking! The first tiny steps toward real-time visibility of a contest are taking place. This will expose many more amateurs to the dynamics of contesting, as well as members of the general public that may take an interest in this strange Radiosport business.
Real-time score availability does have the ability to affect the way the contest happens, of course. Radiosport is unique in that members of the amateur radio public are expected, indeed required, to participate in order for the contest to be a success. It's as if a golf tournament gallery were required to catch the ball and throw it back onto the fairway a few feet.
While improved visibility is definitely a good thing, there are also potential negative consequences. For example, if one team is lagging and their countrymen are able to identify them by their voices or other nuances of their operation, they might be motivated to "help out" by encouraging other local hams to get on and contact that team. There are other similar concerns. The organizing committee evaluated these concerns and decided that the potential for negative effects was greatly outweighed by the positive benefits visibility would bring. In addition, it was felt that there were factors that would affect the competition much more strongly--weather, propagation, and general operator skill. Therefore, the real-time scoreboard remains. Be sure to check it out!
Did I mention weather in that last sentence? Finns are feeling uncomfortable this week because daily high temperatures are hitting nearly 30 degrees, even up-country in the lake district of Himos and Jamsa where we are before heading to our host's stations. This is uncommonly hot for Finland, also known as Suomi. While it makes for some sweaty brows on people from cool climates, I don't think it is bothering the Texans, Italians, South Africans, or Argentines. Yet, we have some thunderstorms moving through the area tonight and tomorrow and then for the contest weekend, things should be a bit cooler and clearer.
The Opening Ceremony was quite the show, under a very large Big Tent over more than 50 meters in diameter. All of the competitors filed inside as for the Olympics, grouped by countries and wearing their WRTC shirts. The teams completely encircled the audience, serenaded by a fine jazz group. "The Saints Come Marching In" started off the parade, believe it or not, earning a laugh from the crowd that rapidly turned to applause as their favorites appeared.
Tonight we have the more formal WRTC Opening Dinner with a speech from the Contest Club of Finland's (CCF) president and other dignitaries and members of the previous WRTC committees. The brainchild of Danny Eskenazi K7SS has certainly grown up to stand on its own two feet at the ripe old age of 12.
I expect the late night schmoozing and conversations to QRT a little early tonight (although the sky might still be bright) for all of the operators and those who will supervise them to get caught up on sleep and dispell the final smidgens of jet lag. Tomorrow brings one final set of meetings and then on to the host stations! The WRTC2002 has done a marvelous job in setting up 54 nearly identical stations, all checked out and ready for operation. But who could rest easy, having come all this way, with so much on the line?
The clock is ticking in Finland...Kiipis! (Cheers!)
73, Ward N0AX/OH
PS - Don't forget to send in a log within 6 hours of the contest to participate in the WRTC-sponsored raffle. There are also special prizes for working as many of the OJ competitor callsigns as possible. Check www.wrtc2002.org for details.
WRTC - World Radiosport Team Championship in Finland - July 9-16, 2002
© WRTC2002 Org. design: OH1NOA