Hugo Calderano denied entry into the USA! Will miss the USA Smash 2025

[vvk1]

so,

Could ITTF/USOPC not help waive the Cuban problem and still allow Hugo in with ESTA? (Hugo + the other players)
We are talking about ITTF - an international body, and the USA Olympic committee, which should have links to the gov / gov departments.

Did they try or was the emergency visa the only solution (mean ESTA is a dead end)

Well, even FIFA is hopeless here.
See https://www.sportschau.de/usa-verweigern-kubas-volleyballerinnen-visa,kuba-usa-110.html and https://www.sportschau.de/einreise-...m-fuer-sport,einreise-usa-wm-olympia-100.html.

 

[NextLevel]

Among the first things I noticed on the ESTA application page was the question "If I traveled to Cuba?" I wonder how Calderano missed it (has been there for a while).

https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/

It's not even screaming at me, I had to read the page carefully to see it. You would be surprised what catches people's eyes when formatting documents.

 

[lodro]

The US immigration policy is in shambles. It's just ridiculous and a complete travesty what it has turned into.

Yes, more needs to be done to filter out the bad actors but to make 99% of the other innocent people have to suffer is just wrong.

True. Talking about shamble, there is more to it that that:The American empire is over: Richard Wolff on Trump, tariffs ... YouTube · Al Jazeera English 1 day ago

 

[zeio]

True. Talking about shamble, there is more to it that that:The American empire is over: Richard Wolff on Trump, tariffs ... YouTube · Al Jazeera English 1 day ago

I miss the days of cheap Australian lobster and American lobster (beef as well) when ScoMo was in charge where relations between Australia and China were strained... LOL

Why Australia is Falling Out with the US
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFunH8uZ8ro
As US De-Stabilizes Its Own World Order, China Emerges as Steady Hand
https://youtu.be/5tGJr3ZBkmI
Gao: Nuclear subs deal means Australia will lose ‘privilege of not being targeted’ | China Tonight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0xSRh1ya7U

New Zealand PM Arrives in Beijing to Continue Official Visit to China
https://youtu.be/jsOyQpYlkqg?t=32
Xi Meets New Zealand's Prime Minister in Beijing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRH5d2RBFaI

 

[lodro]

I miss the days of cheap Australian lobster and American lobster (beef as well) when ScoMo was in charge where relations between Australia and China were strained... LOL

Why Australia is Falling Out with the US
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFunH8uZ8ro
As US De-Stabilizes Its Own World Order, China Emerges as Steady Hand
https://youtu.be/5tGJr3ZBkmI
Gao: Nuclear subs deal means Australia will lose ‘privilege of not being targeted’ | China Tonight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0xSRh1ya7U

New Zealand PM Arrives in Beijing to Continue Official Visit to China
https://youtu.be/jsOyQpYlkqg?t=32
Xi Meets New Zealand's Prime Minister in Beijing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRH5d2RBFaI

good stuff mate, good stuff

 

[PoppaChubby]

So, i'm involved with almost 40 players and visa is a problem some of the times. Some times it is a huge problem (ie Fan Siqi getting India visa was a nightmare after having letters from 2 gov ministries included during the application and probably made the 40 day+ application happen in 10 days - which is still very long).

Yes, Hugo is responsible, but some times, you are stuck.

I have 4 players I "need" to get French long term stay visa, and the passport needs to get be sent in for 3 to 4 weeks.
Tell me which international players can do that?

If WTT schedule is not so crazy and the same as during the ITTF world/pro tour days, it was a lot more easier to plan.
But today, you would need to probably take some leave (between June~Aug - which is impossible with all the Smashes) for Visa.

Visa's problem also got to do with booking appointments - like Hugo got stuck.
he got all his paperwork in order, but the embassy appointment booking is full.
how much time it took him to get all the paperwork in order is something I want to know too - since, paperwork some times is a nightmare itself.

I'm looking at the Korean French embassy and the earliest appointment booking is like 6 weeks away - which the player will be late for the Pro A league lol.

Luckily the work permit is approved and the player can still travel in with visa free (up to 90 days). But if long term is require, are forced to still find a way to apply.

So, I have Hugo's experience and understand his frustration.
He was forced to go to Cuba in a way, just like some of our juniors went to North Korea (East Asian Junior champs).
I guess those juniors will also struggle to get into "some countries" due to PRK record.
and the same as if you been to Pakistan, you probably will never get into India.

Politics is a huge problem and the likes of ITTF does need to look after the players and be smart about hosting countries and it would be great if the Local TT hosts can speak to its own gov to waive restrictions for Hugo, but I am sure, the action only started when Hugo knew it was a problem and I doubt if WTT/ITTF knew of the problem and "warned" the players long ago.

I wish to know, how many Schengen states citizen visited that competition in Cuba and if ITTF provided any warnings.
I also wonder those other Cuba affected athletes - if they had near as much of Hugo's packed schedule.
So this kind of seem like, the busy players get punished, and the ones that have free time "have enough time" to get visa? that is also wrong.

LA 2028 - watch out

I see here you can get an apointment on September 4th

Prise De Rendez Vous Ambassade De France En République De Corée

Solution de prise de rendez-vous des consulats / ambassade

consulat.gouv.fr

Last season only 2 clubs played in September 10th, all the others have started the Pro A in October, so take it quick and it will be fine.

What are the other nationalities you need an apointment for ?

 

[PoppaChubby]

Also you can regularly check the FFTT calendar here to see when it starts, but generaly speaking they never release the pro competitions' calendar before august every year.

To me it won't start before Monday September 15th, between the Champions Macao and the China Smash, and the second round wil be held after that, not before Monday October 6th.

Accueil - Fédération Française de Tennis de Table

www.fftt.com

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

I see here you can get an apointment on September 4th

thanks,
i'm afraid she will be busy at Contender Almaty during this period and then afterwards, still awaiting participation for the others - Turkey+China smash etc.

we looking at a likelihood of first Pro A match during mid September too-which links with one of the feeder Turkeys (or not), so visa submission is not possible in the month of September too.

 

[PoppaChubby]

thanks,
i'm afraid she will be busy at Contender Almaty during this period and then afterwards, still awaiting participation for the others - Turkey+China smash etc.

we looking at a likelihood of first Pro A match during mid September too-which links with one of the feeder Turkeys (or not), so visa submission is not possible in the month of September too.

September 8th for now, the only day without any competition, 3 spots in the same hour span, if I were you...

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

September 8th for now, the only day without any competition, 3 spots in the same hour span, if I were you...

View attachment 36955

Its not that simple
They need to withhold the passport for 2-3 weeks during the visa application
Without passport, you cant travel

 

[PoppaChubby]

Its not that simple
They need to withhold the passport for 2-3 weeks during the visa application
Without passport, you cant travel

I know, but France is not different than any country on the planet for that matter.

Now if you explain this to the club that hired your athlete, they'll ask the FFTT to start the league only in October. If it's one of the top 2 athletes in the squad, the FFTT knows it's better to get the best players on tracks. Many clubs have booked 5 000+ seats arenas last season because the Lebruns where coming there, but when they didn't came it's been a huge disapointment. There are many clubs in the same situation that's why many rounds of the pro A are postponed when there are clubs that can't bring their best athletes, it leads to situations like playing 2 rounds over the whole 18 the same week, or playing phase 1 rounds after December when phase 2 starts.

 

[PoppaChubby]

I miss the days of cheap Australian lobster and American lobster (beef as well) when ScoMo was in charge where relations between Australia and China were strained... LOL

Why Australia is Falling Out with the US
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFunH8uZ8ro
As US De-Stabilizes Its Own World Order, China Emerges as Steady Hand
https://youtu.be/5tGJr3ZBkmI
Gao: Nuclear subs deal means Australia will lose ‘privilege of not being targeted’ | China Tonight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0xSRh1ya7U

New Zealand PM Arrives in Beijing to Continue Official Visit to China
https://youtu.be/jsOyQpYlkqg?t=32
Xi Meets New Zealand's Prime Minister in Beijing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRH5d2RBFaI

Australia deeply regrets making a deal with the US for the submarines, now they try to get back to France like Canada does, anyways it's not China that will sell any subs to Australia: China actually hires ex-french navy fighter pilots to know how to build a valid naval air force. https://www.eurasiantimes.com/frenc...training-chinese-air-force-for-carrier-based/

That's why France is the second world arms seller. No ITAR components, no restrictions for the buyers to use the arms sold. That's also why China sends beautiful girls in french universities to marry ... french submariners and naval bases soldiers in Brittany. China is a world giant in many ways, but not AT ALL in any naval way.

https://en.topwar.ru/241525-financial-times-agenty-kitajskoj-razvedki-pytajutsja-vyvedat-voennye-sekrety-francii-cherez-francuzskih-morjakov.html

 

[NextLevel]

Australia deeply regrets making a deal with the US for the submarines, now they try to get back to France like Canada does, anyways it's not China that will sell any subs to Australia: China actually hires ex-french navy fighter pilots to know how to build a valid naval air force. https://www.eurasiantimes.com/frenc...training-chinese-air-force-for-carrier-based/

That's why France is the second world arms seller. No ITAR components, no restrictions for the buyers to use the arms sold. That's also why China sends beautiful girls in french universities to marry ... french submariners and naval bases soldiers in Brittany. China is a world giant in many ways, but not AT ALL in any naval way.

https://en.topwar.ru/241525-financial-times-agenty-kitajskoj-razvedki-pytajutsja-vyvedat-voennye-sekrety-francii-cherez-francuzskih-morjakov.html

That's how Western arrogance starts. Then in a couple of years, they have built better submarines and planes than you can imagine.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

I know, but France is not different than any country on the planet for that matter.

Now if you explain this to the club that hired your athlete, they'll ask the FFTT to start the league only in October. If it's one of the top 2 athletes in the squad, the FFTT knows it's better to get the best players on tracks. Many clubs have booked 5 000+ seats arenas last season because the Lebruns where coming there, but when they didn't came it's been a huge disapointment. There are many clubs in the same situation that's why many rounds of the pro A are postponed when there are clubs that can't bring their best athletes, it leads to situations like playing 2 rounds over the whole 18 the same week, or playing phase 1 rounds after December when phase 2 starts.

I guess you missed the part when I mentioned these events too:

FFTT can start the league in Oct, but it doesn't speed up the French embassy processing to allow the player to fly out to these events.

so this is a perfect example of Hugo's problem
when do you find the time

there is a gap of WTT from China Smash to Star Contender London, but you need min 2 to 3 weeks submission for Visa
China to London is only less than 2 weeks gap, and we talking Pro A matches in between already.

we basically need visa processing at less than 1 week, to work in with WTT's scheduling.
The club already tried to speak to the embassy... but to no avail.

 

[yoass]

View attachment 36873

Lucky him. He's colourful enough to get kidnapped and disappeared into CECOT, no doubt.

No one with a working braincell should voluntarily risk exposition to a fascist regime by travelling to fascist shithole countries.