The organisers of the German Open Championship have extended the period for couples to enter the nearly 40 competitions scheduled between 9 and 13 August at the Liederhalle in Stuttgart. Online registration remains open through Sunday 7 August. Click here!
We have looked at the preliminary starting lists that have recently been published and we have done so with a particular focus on the two GrandSlam events.
As of today, 2 August - the initial deadline for registration, the number of entries is down significantly for the GrandSlam Latin as well as Standard over the two previous years. In 2015, 377 couples had registered to dance the Latin, 314 actually did - 321 couples had registered to dance the Standard, 258 danced it. In 2016, preliminary entries stand at 292 couples in Latin and 253 couples in Standard. If we anticipate a 15% margin of excused and no-show couples, we arrive at a participation of around 250 for Latin and 215 for Standard.
What makes matters worse is the fact that quite a few big names are ominously absent from the lists too. Four couples from the top 10 in the current GrandSlam Ranking Latin are either not on the list yet or have been taken off already. It's not quite as pronounced in the Standard, only two top 10 couples are missing there. But with both # 1 couples not entering the GrandSlam Stuttgart, it can hardly be business as usual for either organiser or WDSF.
One thing is going back to levels of participation prior to the GOC boom days for circumstances beyond the control of either organiser or WDSF, another is to dance the GOC without all the best couples on the floor. It is preceisely the latter that has made the German Open stand out for three decades.
There is still time! GOC online registration remains open through Sunday 7 August. Click here!
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