"Colin Campbell" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:
[email protected]...
>
> All valid points. I always think how much it would cost to get to all
> four World Cup track meets. When we had to go to the velodrome for
> volunteer orientation, two weeks before the WC, the Polish National Team
> was already there. They participated in the local races that day, leaving
> only crumbs for the local racers. Where does Poland get the money for
> something like three weeks (or longer, I don't know when the Poles
> arrived) out of the country? I know the Euro is strong, but....
>
> I'd have to check, but I think the French and Germans, among others,
> brought their best riders to LA.
It's not free of course, but you have to look at it like travel for a
moderate sized business, not four family vacations. As a business entity,
they will get special discounts for certain aspects of travel. Regarding
room and board, frequently the race organizer has made special arrangements,
either discount or gratis. Sometimes this can also include dining
arrangements, such as an institutional cafeteria. Also (I don't know if
every country operates in a like fashion), events/travel/training can be
subsidized by the national Olympic committee if a direct link between that
event (like an Olympic qualifier) and the Olympics can be shown.
Also, as I mentioned before, I don't think the UCI expected every country
(top rider) to participate in every single WC. The US certainly doesn't send
a full team to ride every event at each WC.
