KostasKostil's blog

Thanks to the kind presenter for preventing the Ukrainian team from being disqualified
By KostasKostil, 4 months ago, In English

https://www.youtube.com/clip/UgkxDroRHQ8dQBNfNmHy2GmnDcX1gTToUdOY

  • Vote: I like it
  • +294
  • Vote: I do not like it

»
4 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it -13 Vote: I do not like it

😯😯😯

→ Reply
»
4 months ago, # |
  Vote: I like it +181 Vote: I do not like it

I — the chief judge of the competition — was not informed of this rule before-hand. Moreover, I was not in Prague anymore when it happened.

I know of at least one regional where flags are allowed on stage.

I don't think that bringing a flag on stage is a form of politicization that should be avoided. Many people are proud of their country and are happy to represent it. I can think of many sports that allow contestants to have their flag on the podium.

I will ask to the organizers why and how this happened.

→ Reply
  • »
    »
    4 months ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +26 Vote: I do not like it

    Hi, were you able to obtain some clarification from the organisers? It was a very nice event, and then this weird thing happened.

    → Reply
    • »
      »
      »
      4 months ago, # ^ |
        Vote: I like it -8 Vote: I do not like it

      After a few emails, there was an agreement that what happened can be described as:

      A decision made on the spot by the presenter based on his perceived general practice of ICPC towards anything that could be political in nature.

      The same presenter also wants to say that:

      I have no bias towards Ukrainian or Russian but I believe [...] that as the host we want to maintain good ICPC culture and be strictly neutral. We strive to promote regional integrity and provide global coordination.

      → Reply
      • »
        »
        »
        »
        4 months ago, # ^ |
          Vote: I like it +16 Vote: I do not like it

        So, by that logic, why is having a flag of the country university is affiliated with in the official scoreboard of the competition OK, but having it in the closing ceremony is suddenly not OK?

        → Reply
      • »
        »
        »
        »
        4 months ago, # ^ |
          Vote: I like it +22 Vote: I do not like it

        If the host can make up rules on the spot, it speaks volumes about the integrity of the contest.

        → Reply
        • »
          »
          »
          »
          »
          4 months ago, # ^ |
            Vote: I like it +3 Vote: I do not like it

          I need to add one more thing. I expected at least an apology, since no such rule exists. But it looks like Tomas doubled down on it and apparently still thinks he can just disqualify people in the name of 'maintaining good ICPC culture'. Therefore, I invite all ICPC hosts to disqualify teams arbitrarily, because they wear blue or yellow, or maybe if one of the team members has a strange expression on their face.

          → Reply
          • »
            »
            »
            »
            »
            »
            4 months ago, # ^ |
              Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

            I know right! This is terrible. They should have apologised

            → Reply
      • »
        »
        »
        »
        4 months ago, # ^ |
          Vote: I like it +11 Vote: I do not like it

        Thank you for following up on this with the organisers.

        It is unfortunate that Tomas does not see any problem with his decision.

        → Reply
  • »
    »
    4 months ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it +59 Vote: I do not like it

    Are you sure it's related to politicization? I know everyone assumes this because of the political climate, but in my IOI-like participation experience, they usually ban flags due to being a visual obstruction (official IOI regulation has this rule). It's not a recent thing. I don't personally agree with the rule, but I've had mini flag battles on a podium, so I know it isn't without reason.

    Makes less sense in this case since the teams are coming out one-by-one, so the usual reason of obstructing other winners is not valid, but you can still easily obstruct some of the officials or your teammates unintentionally with a big flag.

    It doesn't make sense about the jacket, but the presenter might've easily misunderstood the reasoning of the original flag rule, since everyone immediately presumes its based on politics.

    → Reply
»
4 months ago, # |
← Rev. 2   Vote: I like it +71 Vote: I do not like it

What the hell did I just see? They didn't allow to bring jacket at the award ceremony, it wasn't actually the flag of Ukraine, it was just in colours of flag. Where can I see the set of forbidden colours?

And even for flags: they represent the university at Ukraine, why is Ukrainian flag then prohibited?

→ Reply
  • »
    »
    4 months ago, # ^ |
      Vote: I like it 0 Vote: I do not like it

    Actually, if you look closely, it was both a flag and a hoodie.

    → Reply