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I hate to be the dissenting voice here, but I don't see that the British team is at any disadvantage at all. In fact, they have a considerable advantage over many other teams, just that they have not chosen to make use of it.
Airfare from London to Boston (and then a 45-minute drive to Manchester NH) is currently less expensive than it is from Anchorage AK to San Jose. Or Hawaii to Los Angeles. Or Billings MT to Chicago.
So when all those other teams from remote areas across the U.S. and Canada had to find the resources to get themselves to a remote kick-off location so they could retrieve their kits, can someone tell me why we need to make special rules to accomodate teams that are "X" miles/borders/oceans away?
This is absolutely not a "nationalistic" bias. I would say the very same thing about a group from Wisconsin or anywhere else that was asking for special privileges.
As a counter-example, I look to the Brazilian team. Every year, they have managed to get to the kick off to retrieve their kits, and fly home with bins 'o stuff in tow to get started on the competition as soon as possible. Never once have they asked for special dispensation or accommodation. And every year, they put out a very impressive robot (I still remember the match we played with them at the Championship in 2000, which we included in our team video), and they show up in force. And they make it all work from the southern hemisphere!
The folks from Team 388 that have chosen to help to help out the British team by sending them a pile of containers are to be commended. You truely represent the spirit of FIRST. But I would hope that the actions that you had to take this year will be the exception, and not the rule, of how international teams are supported in the competition.
-dave
p.s. Jacqui - I REALLY hope you are able to get the first FIRST team in Australia started! It would be a wonderful addition to the "southern cross contingent" started by the Brazilians!
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