It’s been 7 years since it’s been called Nationals, so people, please stop calling it that. There are many international teams, both in FRC, FLL, JFLL, and FVC, and calling the competition Nationals instead of the proper title, Championship, ignores those teams and their achievements. Calling it Nationals doesn’t make you old skool or anything; it makes you look lazy and frankly somewhat ignorant.
Please, it’s Championship. The sub-forum is labeled it, FIRST hasn’t called it that in many years, and teams from all over the world attend the event, it’s not a “national” event in any stretch of the imagination.
I’ve only been in FIRST for 2 years (second season so not a full two years), and when I was first told about the event it was introduced to me as “Nationals”.
I’M GOING TO NATIONALS WOO
You’re always going to have the veterans that say it out of habit, and that will influence the younger generation to call it that also.
I’M GOING TO CHAMPIONSHIP WOO
I have recently gotten into the habit of calling it “ATL” but I also tend to call it everything, ATL, Champs, CMP, Championship, and Nationals.
I’M GOING TO ATL WOO
Yea Dean still calls it nationals. He called it that at SVR. So as far as I’m concerned if the guy that runs the show calls it nationals it must be OK.
And besides why did you start a thread on this. It’s… pointless.
Part of the problem with “The Championship” vs. “Nationals” stems from the words themselves. “The Championship” requires a “the”, because saying “I am going to the Championship” is the only way to say it that makes sense. “I am going to Nationals” is shorter and more flexible. Furthermore, “nats” is a much easier abbreviation than “champs”, especially in oral communication.
Just because Dean is the FOUNDER of FIRST doesn’t mean he runs the whole event. No single person can run the whole event. And just because one VERY important individual states something, doesn’t necessarily mean that it is the correct way to continue.
I feel that Joe started this thread to try and spread awareness that “The Championship” is the more (and I use this lightly) “Politically Correct” term for the event. You have to keep in mind that there are teams from all over the world attending this event, not just teams from The United States, while FVC and FLL bring in more foreign teams than FRC, FRC still brings in teams from Canada, The UK, Brazil, Isreal, Mexico and The Netherlands.
It should be called “The World Championship Event” not “The Championship Event”. In my opinion the latter does not sound as impressive as “Nationals” when conversing with someone outside of FIRST. The championship event of what? Your county? State? etc.
Joe started this thread for people like you who don’t know that using the proper name is important. It’s only pointless if you refuse to acknowledge that the Championship isn’t named “Nationals” anymore.
It should be called “The World Championship Event” not “The Championship Event”. In my opinion the latter does not sound as impressive as “Nationals” when conversing with someone outside of FIRST. The championship event of what? Your county? State? etc.
Yep, I am totally agreeing with the above statement because we have international teams coming from around the world and I feel that its a disrespect to not recognize all the achievements and accomplishments of these FRC,FLL,JFLL,and FVC teams.
I call it “The World Championship” It sounds most impressive when we talk to potential sponsors.
Also agree with this statement! It sounds more professional when talking to potential sponsors and trying to raise money for this prestigious event.
The Championship, The Championship Event, The World Championship, The international Championship, Internationals, Champs, Nationals, Nat’s, ATL…
I just call it the best time of my life.
Joe is correct it is no longer Nationals due to the many international teams that participate in the various events at the Championship Event.
When talking to outsiders, a.k.a non FIRST people, I always use the World Championship because it sounds much better and gives somewhat of a better description of what occurs.
I like to call it Hotlanta… but that’s a personal thing. Otherwise, I call it “The World Championship Event.” If I’m out to impress, I say, “The International Championship, hosting over 300 teams from 6 nations of the world.”
“The 2007 FIRST Robotics Competition International World Championship Event Of Atlanta Consisting Of Competition, Gracious Professionalism, Robots, And Geeky Fun”?
Word of FIRST is getting out. I’m having people from all over the place contacting me and asking me what is going on in Atlanta. I want to make sure that I use the correct terminology when providing information to them.
Also, each year, our team has new students and their parents enter the team as seniors and their parents become alumni. If we give mixed signals to the new members, it will never get straight. It is good to start from the beginning with the correct terminology in spoken and written form.
