Re: ISRAEL REGIONAL OFFICAL!!!
 

I highly doubt that all of the sudden out of nowhere 14 teams just sprung up in Israel.

It would be awesome, but I don't see it.

I think there will be a lot of people that want to go to the regional, but can't due to schoolboards and such

Re: ISRAEL REGIONAL OFFICAL!!!
 

Well, the regional is on a Wed., so they could have it Tues, Wed., Thurs., and have the field and everything gone by Thurs. night. Of course, seeing as this is the first year for it, I'd think they run a small regional and just test the waters, and if it works, who knows what could happen next year!

As a side note, does this mean that the game will be very simple to setup, sort of like Zone Zeal? Remember, an entire field must ship to Israel and back in a week, unless they're using the fact that it's on a Wed. to give the field extra time to ship. Even so, I think they'd have to ship it air, and just imagine how much that would cost if we had a setup such as Raising the Bar.

Re: ISRAEL REGIONAL OFFICAL!!!
 

Who says they play the same game?

and Cory, who says that the teams are already started?

Re: ISRAEL REGIONAL OFFICAL!!!
 

I would assume that if FIRST is trying to make itself into an international competition (beyond Canada at least), I would assume they have everyone do the same thing. Plus the fact that they always say they have enough trouble coming up with one game, you think they'd be able to get Dave to make them two? :-p

Re: ISRAEL REGIONAL OFFICAL!!!
 

Okay everybody, lets all calm down. Take one deep breath in. Hold it. Hold it. Now let it out...

Some comments,

1. 14 open spots does not mean there will be only 14 teams. It could mean that. Currently I see that there are only 5 open spots for the Detroit regional, yet for some reason I think there'll be more than 5 teams.

As stated earlier in the thread, regional hold spots for local rookie teams to get formed.

2. The whole March 9-9 thing. This is an educated guess on my part, but it seems to me that it would be impractical to hold a regional that runs on a Saturday in Israel. After all the Jewish Sabbath begins Friday evening at sundown.

3. 14 rookies teams in Israel being unlikely? I'd have to disagree. FIRST too smart to go through all the work they must have to even start planning this event, without having a large degree of confidence that they would be able to generate teams.

I look forward to seeing how this plays out. Until then, I'd just like to welcome Israel into the FIRST family.

Re: ISRAEL REGIONAL OFFICAL!!!
 

Ever hear of seed money? :)

The listings on the website NO NOT include reserved spots. NASA grant regionals don't list 10 or so spots that are being held for NASA grant recipents. So perhaps 14 American/Canadian/Brazian teams will have the chance to goto Israel. Maybe the Brazilians will go there, they've already mastered the out of country travel bit.


Wetzel

Re: ISRAEL REGIONAL OFFICAL!!!
 

There is also a British team who might go and who knows there may be more. As for getting 14 rookie teams, The Canadian regional had something like 30 rookie teams the first year. Even last year I believe that it was over 20 (please correct me if I am wrong).

Re: ISRAEL REGIONAL OFFICAL!!!
 

I hate to think about how much it would cost to travel to Israel, let alone the fees for shipping the robots or playing field elements...

This could be very interesting indeed. I have no idea what FIRST is thinking. Aren't the new regionals announced in the summer? This is not only a new regional but a new regional in the Middle East. If anything warrants an announcement from FIRST, it seems like this would...but this is the first that I've heard of it.

Here's hoping that this pans out successfully...

Re: ISRAEL REGIONAL OFFICAL!!!
 

I think they could. There has to be a bunch of robotic teams hanging around for the Trinity Robotics Competition. There has to be enough for them to warrant their own Israel regional.

Re: ISRAEL REGIONAL OFFICAL!!!
 

This is really awesome! Just imagine students half way across the world trying to solve the same problems you are. This is one huge step in globalizing FIRST!

Can't wait to see how everything turns out!

Re: ISRAEL REGIONAL OFFICAL!!!
 

I really hope no US team is thinking about going to Israel. I think it's a waste when the more well-off teams travel farther, and conseqeuently pay more, to attend a regional than they could have. If they really have this great excess of money, there are many, many teams who could sure use the help.

Re: ISRAEL REGIONAL OFFICAL!!!
 

Not including shipping the robot, going to Israel is probably about twice as expensive as going cross country. Airfare to Israel can be found for under $500, expecially booked this far in advance (compare to around $225 for a cross-country flight), and hotels there can be quite cheap (I stayed in a very nice Jerusalem hotel that was walking distance from the Old City for the equivalent of $20 a night, and that included free breakfast and a rental car!).

Re: ISRAEL REGIONAL OFFICAL!!!
 

That really is a cheap shot and teams who may be in that category you are referring to, aren't going to be very happy with those comments. Teams should not worry about how other teams spend their sponsorship money. If my team has a million dollars, I may chose to use it as I wish. I may use that money to [i]nspire my students in a different way than you do. Stop worrying how teams may chose to use their sponsorship money and how you [think] they should use it.

Re: ISRAEL REGIONAL OFFICAL!!!
 

This is an attitude that shows up frequently that really bothers me.

If a team can raise lots of money, they have the right to spend it any way they want. Some teams use their excess money to generously help other teams. While other teams use this to benefit their own students. Both options are very noble in my opinion.

I for one hope many North American teams take the journey to Israel. It would be an inspirational trip for all, and it would help strengthen FIRST worldwide. That seems like a more than worthwhile expense to me.

Re: ISRAEL REGIONAL OFFICAL!!!
 

Here is my guess. The Israeli's are forming their own teams. They already support many robotics teams. FIRST is supporting them by helping with the field, etc. The one or two top teams will then be heading to Atlanta. :)

One issue that I haven't seen raised anywhere yet re: the Championship is that Passover starts at sundown on Sat. April 23.