[robocup-worldwide] RoboCup 2016 Newsletter #2

Tue Apr 12 08:23:21 EDT 2016

Apologies for the duplicate email. Re-sending with attachment.

On Mon, Apr 11, 2016 at 9:22 PM, April Foster <april.l.foster at gmail.com>
wrote:

> 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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