[robocup-worldwide] RoboCup 2016 Newsletter #2

Mon Apr 11 21:22:43 EDT 2016

RoboCup 2016 — Newsletter #2

*Welcome*

Dear RoboCup Community, dear RoboCuppers!

The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) hopes that your preparations for
RoboCup 2016 are already well under way and looks very much forward to
welcome you in Leipzig.

This second newsletter gives you updated information on the event.
*1 Registration / Reminder on Important Dates*

Have you already registered your team?

We would like to kindly remind you that *early registration *for major
league teams and team members *ends on April 30*.
Take the opportunity to save budget and register your team now!

Web links related to registration:

- Main RoboCup 2016 web page with information on registration:
http://robocup2016.org/en/participants/registration/

- RoboCup Federation registration page at regonline:
https://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1812546

(Please note that due to an error we had announced a wrong end of early
registration date in our first newsletter. Please accept our apologies.)

Below, find a summary of important dates for RoboCup 2016:

● Start of early registration for Major and of registration for Junior:
March 1

● End of early registration for Major: *April 30*

● End of regular registration for Major and Junior: *May 31*

Note: no registration of teams after May 31!

● Start of late registration for Major and Junior team members: *June 01*

● End of late registration for Major and Junior team members: *June 15*

● Setup days for teams in Major Leagues: June 28 to 29

● Setup days for teams in Junior Leagues: June 29

● Competitions in Major and Junior leagues: June 30 to July 03

● Symposium Day: July 04
Note: For Junior, there is no separate early/regular registration period.

*2 Visa Information*

Participants from the following countries will *NOT *require a visa:
Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia,
Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece,
Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea (ROK, South Korea), Latvia,
Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland,
Portugal. Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States of America

Participants from the following countries *WILL *require a visa:

China (POC), Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Philippines,
Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey

For all other countries, information about visa requirements for traveling
to Germany can be found at the following link:

http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/EinreiseUndAufenthalt/StaatenlisteVisumpflicht_node.html
3 Invitation Letters for Visa Application

All participants requiring a visa please find relevant details (visa fees,
documents etc) here: http://robocup2016.org/en/participants/visa/.

Due to regulatory restrictions, invitation letters for visa applications
can be issued by the hosting organization *only after *participants *have
registered and fully paid *their registration fees. This implies, of
course, successful qualification for participation in RoboCup 2016 as
described in Section 1 above, because only qualified teams and members of
qualified teams will be able to register for RoboCup 2016.

We learned that some participants need preliminary invitation letters, e.g.
in order to apply for passports or to initiate other local administrative
procedures. If you need such a preliminary invitation letter, please
contact Ms Hanna Krajczy at Leipziger Messe by email:

H.Krajczy at leipziger-messe.de
*4 Travel*

The most convenient means to reach Leipzig is flying directly to Leipzig
Airport (LEJ). If you cannot get a direct for connecting flight to Leipzig,
you could also take a flight to one of the major airports in Germany and
continue by train. Below, there is a short list of average travel times by
trains (prefer high speed ICE train connections where available) from some
major airports to Leipzig central station (“Hbf”):

TXL (Berlin) – Leipzig Hbf about 1:45

FRA (Frankfurt) – Leipzig Hbf about 3:10 to 3:30

HAM (Hamburg) – Leipzig Hbf about 3:45

MUC (Munich) – Leipzig Hbf about 5:30 to 6:00

Hint:

If you travel by train, consider taking advantage of price reductions
offered by Deutsche Bahn either via one of their customer cards or by
special price reductions for early online booking. For example, they
currently (until June 11) offer BahnCard 25 for just 19 Euros in second
class coach, and it gives a 25% discount on all trains. Alternatively, if
you travel in a group, there may be attractive package offers you can use.
Ask your local travel agency to check offers or check yourself online via
http://www.bahn.de/p_en/view/index.shtml !
*5 On-Site Transportation*

Please note that a ticket for free local public transportation in the City
of Leipzig will be included with your RoboCup participant badge.
*6 Accommodation Information*

Leipzig is a very friendly and safe city. For a pleasant and enjoyable trip
to Leipzig, we recommend to book accommodation early. Leipzig offers a
wealth of low- to medium priced accommodations in all categories. We have
provided updated information on accommodation and links for online booking
at the following web page:
http://www.robocup2016.org/en/participants/arrival-and-accommodation/book-accommodation/
*7 Checklist*

❏ Team registered?

❏ All team members registered?

❏ Checked whether visa is required?

If yes:

❏ Invitation letter requested?

❏ Invitation letter received?

❏ Visa application process initiated?

❏ Visa obtained?

❏ Flights booked?

If not directly or connecting to Leipzig:

❏ Transport within Germany organized?

❏ Accommodation booked?
*8 Cargo*

RoboCup 2016 has selected DHL as global partner for cargo handling. We are
currently in negotiation about procedural details and will provide detailed
information on shipping, customs and cargo handling in the third newsletter
due by end of April. The RoboCup 2016 web page will then also show updated
information on prices, procedures, contact persons, etc.
*9 Safety*

Within the last weeks we received several safety-related questions and
would like to give you a short overview on basic facts and plannings:

- Germany is classified as a safe country throughout Europe, the same
applies to Leipzig as a secure and cosmopolitan city welcoming people from
all over the world.

- The event host — Leipzig Trade Fair — has an experienced and
well-structured safety committee that works together with all relevant
security authorities (public order office, police forces and national
security forces, fire department as well as medical services). This
cooperation includes, among other things, periodic polling about new safety
threats, so that Leipzig Trade Fair will be always up-to-date and can
inform participants as well react on latest risks.

- Official and reliable statements about the current safety situation in
Germany, in the State of Saxony as well as the City of Leipzig can be found
at any time on reputable platforms, such as the Federal Ministry of the
Interior.

Please be ensured that we closely observe the safety and security situation
and will inform you immediately if any risks evolve and any kind of
precautions should be taken.
*10 Social Media*

Please follow us on the RoboCup 2016 social media channels:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robocupleipzig

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdSBUQv9eogjZJ-0FRoRlzw
*Closing*

We wish you and your team successful preparations for RoboCup 2016, and we
hope to see and welcome you all in Leipzig for an exciting and unique 20th
RoboCup!

Best regards and best wishes,

On behalf of the RoboCup 2016 Local Organizing Committee:

Gerhard Kraetzschmar, General Chair

Oskar von Stryk, Associate Chair

Ansgar Bredenfeld, Associate Chair

Kati Fritzsche, Project Director
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