While scores of city staff from across the organization were readying for Winter Storm Grayson, a team from the CVB were in the final stages of preparing for the Convention Center’s first major public event of the new year. Following successful events in 2012 and 2014, the organizers of USA Fencing’s North American Cup (NAC) chose to return to our coastal city for their 2018 event. The NAC is a competition during which athletes have the opportunity to advance and compete in world championships and vie for Olympic team placement in the sport of fencing. More than 1,800 athletes from across the country and around the world registered to compete in Virginia Beach in a number of divisions and levels of play.
As winter storm warnings began to circulate on Tuesday, Jan. 3, CVB staff schedules and roles were adjusted to ensure plans were in place to cover equipment load-in and set up on Wednesday and Thursday, and adequate customer service support was available from Friday to Monday.
From sheltering in place at the Center and nearby locations, to pitching in with walkway clearing and answering questions at help desks, the team pulled together and despite an adjustment to the event start time to allow for flight delays, the tournament was in full swing by Friday afternoon. Motor coach shuttles, provided by the CVB, transported athletes between the Convention Center and the 13 hotels providing accommodations. Between the athletes, coaching staff and other participants approximately 2,700 room nights were blocked for the four-day tournament.
The spirit of was determination was alive and well within the fencing community also. Two examples standout: one athlete from Vancouver who was diverted to Richmond hired an Uber driver to bring him to Virginia Beach on Thursday morning and a group of judges diverted and stuck in the DC area called each other, arranged for a rental vehicle to accommodate them and made the rounds between BWI, Washington Dulles and Washington Reagan airports to get themselves to Virginia Beach in time to judge this important event.
Despite the snow, delayed flights and persistent frigid temperatures, the tournament was lively, action-packed and well-attended. The CVB looks forward to hosting USA Fencing again.
Kudos to all involved for your dedication and hard work and congratulations on another successful event.
