Call to take part in the FCI Centenary Champion of Champions event
Half of the FCI Centenary Year has now gone by and we can already look back on two
very successful centenary events: the FCI Centenary Winner Show in Dortmund and
the FCI Centenary World Dog Show in Paris. The next major event, shortly to be taking
place, will be the Centenary European Show in Leeuwarden (NL). We would like to
take this opportunity of wishing the organisers every success.
The culmination of the Centenary Year will be the FCI Cynological Days, to be held
in Brussels on 11-14 November. We would like to recommend the following events to
member and partner countries: the symposium on 11 November and the FCI Centenary
World Champion of Champions (CoC) competition on 12 November 2011 (open to qualified
dogs), together with the Centenary Gala Evening (for delegates from national kennel
clubs and invited guests). We recommend exhibitors not to miss the FCI Centenary
World Champion of Champions event on 12 November. Entries for this event will be
accepted and processed by the Union Royale Cynologique Saint-Hubert in the period
5-30 September 2011. Reminder: Qualified dogs are those having gained a CACIB at
either the Brussels Show in December 2010 or at one of the Centenary shows (Dortmund,
Paris or Leeuwarden) in 2011. Also entitled to take part are all "FCI international
champions" (CIB and CIE). With the CoC event in Brussels a "once in a blue moon"
event, we hope to see as many qualified dogs as possible taking part. The more dogs
entered, the more interesting the competition will be. We are counting on your being
there!
Yours sincerely,
Hans W. Müller
FCI President
Feelings about the FCI Centenary World Dog Show 2011 in Paris: Interview by K. Donvil
with the owners of a commercial stand
Dear Kitty & Darren, I would like to ask you a few questions about your opinion
as trade standholder on the latest World Dog Show in Paris.
1) Did you have high expectations as this was supposed to become the biggest World
Dog Show ever?
Yes, we had expected a lot of visitors and were prepared for it.
2) Were you happy about your place, was it strategic and were you happy about the
turnover of the weekend?
Yes, absolutely, we have beaten every record and our clients were really happy about
our service.
3) What difficulties and problems did you have and were they solved at the end?
It already started to go wrong with the building up of our stand. Trucks were not
allowed in and everybody wanted to be as close to the doors as possible. The result
was that everything was completely blocked. There was no assistance at all. If you
have 40 tons to get in, it is almost impossible if you need to push everything inside
over about 100 meters. They should ask people with big stands to come one day earlier
and let them in with the truck. They told us it had all to do with security but
on the other hand anyone was allowed in and they were able to wander between your
products.
During the show the doors were opened at 6 o’clock but we only had electricity from
7.30 a.m. and we could not open our shop without. Our clients were waiting and we
could not do anything. A frustrating situation! The organisation told us that we
did not pay for any electricity during the night, only during the day.
When we packed on Sunday evening it was even more frustrating as again we were not
allowed in and we needed to wait until 10.30 p.m. before someone opened the gates
30 cm higher so that we at least could push our goods through the door.
4) What should change in the future or should never happen again?
Restaurants opened only from 8 o’clock and by then almost over 100 people were queuing
to get a cup of coffee. People should at least be able to have a coffee early in
the morning.
In my opinion a commission should be established that travels along with the World
Show and that gives directions and advice to the local organisers.
5) I suppose there were some positive aspects too. Could you mention some?
The biggest show ever! We had a very good contact with our clients and we sold absolutely
very well.