So We're a Bit Out of the International Loop, But Can Anyone Explain ...

So we're a bit out of the international loop these days here at the stately Brisbane Ultimate Blog mansion, but can anyone point out some sort of explanation for how this one happened?

WFDF confirm the thirteenth World Ultimate and Guts Championships (WUGC) will be held in Sakai, Japan from Saturday 7- Saturday 14 July 2012.

USAUltimate announce they're going to host a new event called the USA Open where they will invite 24 of the best teams in the world to play in Boulder Colorado on Wednesday 4 to Sunday 8 July 2012.

Yep, the dates for what's likely to be the two biggest events in Ultimate in 2012 overlap.

Is this some sort of top-end-administrators-don't-like-each-other (or don't even talk to each other) thing? Can anyone argue how this is good for the sport at that level?

Maybe we're overstating the playing conflict aspect though. The USA Open concept has a very large element of 'lets have an international conference about Ultimate' (which is very exciting) - maybe they've just recognised that Ultimate-types won't turn up just to talk shop (much as they love that) - they want to play too (or at least watch some good games).

But on the playing front, presumably, national associations will vote with their feet, as will individual players, and everyone will agree the whole thing is unfortunate. Maybe a few crazies will attempt to play both, missing a day or two at the end of the USA Open or the start of WUGC.

I guess for Aussies it will initially be a question of if any of our clubs get an invite to Colorado, before there's a question of wearing the Green and Gold and supporting our friends in Japan (who will no doubt put on an excellent event), against going to Boulder and trying out something that's likely to be unique. If the USA Open is annual, maybe its worth skipping the first year anyway ... and as the first leg of a trip to ...

Don't forget, entry to the 2013 World Games to be held in Santiago di Cali, Columbia from 25 July to 4 August 2013, is drawn from WUGC results. Do the USA and presumably Canadian associations feel they have enough depth to send a decent team to Japan to ensure they get through, while still having the best in Colorado?

I suppose there'll be a contingent of people who go to the USA Open for a few days of conferencing and watching the North Americans play (because after all, if USAUltimate is aiming to have the best 24 clubs in the world across three divisions that they can get, most of those willing to come in 2012 will be from North America) and some of these may even play, before jetting to Japan.

Then in 2013, everyone will be wanting to go to the second USA Open, as part of their world tour towards the World Games.

Weird, anyways.