Interesting , most of articles in Canada/US about Worlds are illustrated with Plushy pic
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http://www.skatebuzz.com/ViewNewsArticl ... b309ef3751Patience key as Patrick Chan gets set for worldsMar 24, 2011 By Lori Ewing, Canadian PressCanada's Patrick Chan can at least circle a date on his calendar.
Now his success at the world figure skating championships could come down to how well he's managed his time during a month-long delay.
The displaced and delayed world championships have been rescheduled for April 24-May 1 in Moscow, more than a month after they were slated to be held in earthquake-ravaged Tokyo.
The 20-year-old Chan, a two-time world silver medallist, will be a favourite to claim gold in Russia 
after winning the Grand Prix Final in December. His coach Christy Krall said the time in limbo — there was concern the world championships wouldn't be held at all — has been all about managing his training on the ice and his emotional state off it.
"It's really emotional, skaters are like fine racehorses. They want to run, they want to go," Krall told The Canadian Press from Chan's training base in Colorado Springs, Colo. "So putting on the brakes, it was an interesting experience. But what can you do? An act of God. But we're doing great."
Canada was among six countries that offered to serve as a replacement for the event, bidding to stage it in Vancouver. But the International Skating Union announced Thursday it had picked Moscow, with the Russian capital's Megasport arena as the venue.
Krall said she scaled back Chan's training considerably after the initial news of a delay.
"He was skating four sessions (daily), we dropped it down to three," Krall said. "He was practising his short and long program every day and we dropped that down to one session. Our motto has been quality not quantity."
Krall sent Chan out golfing on Wednesday afternoon. He's also been doing some ballroom dancing.
"Everything has a management portion to it, everything is fixable and adjustable," the coach said. "I think that's been kind of the cornerstone of Patrick's training, he adjusts and he copes with every kind of situation."
Krall admitted the uncertainty hadn't been easy. There were bouts of frustration for the Canadian star who's looking to upgrade the back-to-back world silver medals he captured in 2009 and 2010.
And even now that the skaters know where and when they're competing, it still extends their seasons past the point where they'd normally be resting and rehabbing, and then working on new programs for next season.
"That's been the toughest thing because you're really primed and psyched to end your season in March, and then ... whoops! I'm not going to be able to do that," Krall said.
There was suggestion the event would be held as late as the end of May.
"That would have been so devastating, then you really have clocked into your next season," Krall said. "I think that's what everyone was concerned about, how deep into the next season we would get."
Through all the upheaval, the reason for the delay wasn't lost on the skaters.
"Patrick and I, our hearts go out to Japan and the Japanese skaters," Krall said. "We've got them on our minds."
Thursday's ISU statement said Russia has promised easy access to visas, which often can be laborious to obtain."Under these extraordinary circumstances the ISU asks for the full co-operation and understanding of the skating community and all involved entities in making this a successful event," the statement said. "The full co-operation of all participating ISU member federations hopefully attending in full strength will be of utmost importance."
Skate Canada CEO William Thompson had been realistic about Canada's chances however, considering Quebec City was recently awarded the 2011 Grand Prix Final and the 2013 world championships are slated for London, Ont.
"We applaud the Figure Skating Federation of Russia for stepping forward and offering to host the event," Thompson said in a statement. "(The Russian federation) will have strong support throughout the country to plan and execute these championships in such a tight timeline. And if we can help in any way, Skate Canada will certainly provide assistant to our colleagues in Russia."
Canada has a team of 10 entries competing in Moscow, including defending Olympic and world champion ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.
Moscow hosted the skating world championships in 2005, but at a different arena. The Megasport arena has been the site of Cup of Russia, a Grand Prix event, the past three seasons.
.... but I'm incredibly sad, that he will not compete there ... 
