Something different. Every year more teams are announced as competitors at the World Championships than actually compete. (The Club Crews are even worse: hello Ukraine?)

Here's the list of teams competing in Premiere Open.

Who do YOU think won't bother showing up?

Australia
Bulgaria
Canada
Czech rep
Germany
Hong Kong
Hungary
China
Iran
Japan
Macau
Norway
Poland
Russia
Singapore
Slovak rep.
South Africa
Sweden
Great Britain
USA

I'm going with Bulgaria, Hungary and Iran.

Slovaks, Czechs and Russia with home court advantage

Well the economy will have an impact on this either way. If things improve, so will the attendance. If they don't then attendance will suffer.

Heck there is a very good chance that at least one of the teams that wins a Premier Mixed spot gives it up even if that isn't their plan now.

Are you sure this is the list, big one missing who did well in Sydney is the Phillipines, gold in 200, silver 500, bronze 1000. Rumor has it that they were looking for financial support.

Latest Bulletin from the website says that the competing teams are: Australia, Bulgaris, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Czech, Germany, England, Hong Kong, Hungary, China, India, Iran, Italy, Japan, NZ, Norway, Phillipines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Slovak, South Africa, Sweden, Ukraine, USA.

Thats 25 confirmed. Still waiting on Netherlands and Switzerland. Declined cause of Financials are: Cyprus, France, Ireland, Spain, Turkey, Trinidad&Tobago, UAE.

I would guess that Iran will show, as they are presenting a bid to host the 2013 Worlds.... That will be interesting...

I think the bulletin list showed the countries that sent any crew regardless of category. Where did the list for premier open crews come from? Also, I think Hungary will make it considering they sent a crew to Australia and Prague is a couple thousand miles closer.