Re: Registration 2014
 

Woah, that's really interesting! This has the potential to bring about a huge advancement in the region!

Re: Registration 2014
 

Geographically speaking, the Israel Regional would be way closer for them, but we all know why they're not going there...

Re: Registration 2014
 

oh, we do? please explain. How could everyone know why any team is going to any regional?

Re: Registration 2014
 

I believe he was referring to political/religious reasons.

Re: Registration 2014
 

I'm not sure what international affairs are really like, but I imagine it's not very easy to get a visa from Pakistan to Israel, and I'm not sure there's even an Israeli embassy in Pakistan.

EDIT. i'm tempted to say it's more political than religious, but that's just my gut feeling.

Re: Registration 2014
 

I was indeed referring to the fact that Israel and Pakistan have been at war over the Gaza Strip for extended periods of time. Seems to me it would be foolish for an educational institution of any sort to bring its students to a country it is at war with.

Additionally,

Re: Registration 2014
 

Pakistan and Palestine are not the same place.........

Re: Registration 2014
 

And by "not the same place", we mean that Islamabad is almost as far from Ramallah as Los Angeles is from New York City, and the first isn't at war. On the other hand, Pakistani passports are not valid for travel to Israel. On the other-other hand, air travel prices are finicky things (for instance, it's not like San Antonio is the closest US regional). I'm sorry I won't see them in New York, but I'm sure our Texan friends will have a warm welcome in store! I still can't fathom how organizations like this work as the only/one of the few team(s) in their country. More power to you all.

Re: Registration 2014
 

Maybe they just like the Alamo? It is cool you know...

Re: Registration 2014
 

Pakistan may not be Palestine, but Israel–Pakistan relations aren't that convivial.

Re: Registration 2014
 

That... Is true. Whoops. Mixed up my middle eastern P countries.

That said, I did know Israel-Pakistan wasn't a great relationship either.

Re: Registration 2014
 

It's great that there are new teams in Pakistan and the UAE. I'm looking forward to seeing new countries join FRC.

Does anyone know why there isn't better FRC penetration into Europe? It seems like a major, untapped continent with very few teams (6 according to WITWIF and 3 registered).

Re: Registration 2014
 

Not too sure, to be honest. I always thought we would see more teams in the UK pop up, but that never really happened either.

It would be a good question for Frank Answers Fridays!

Re: Registration 2014
 

This is speculation, but my guess would be the lack of a strong team who makes a point to get more teams from their area. Down in Australia, team 3132 has helped out rookies, and through their offseason event allows teams without the resources to go to a regional to build a bot and compete. Without a team like this or other strong support, it's hard to grow the program in a place so far from the nearest regional.

Re: Registration 2014
 

Regardless, I don't think we need to debate why they're not going to Israel for reasons we pulled out of the clouds. But it's cool that teams are springing up more and more worldwide. Should be a great season!