The link atop each Forum page says - and the bolding is mine:

Help sponsor a team of two members to represent FlyerTalk in the upcoming GreatEscape2002 which crowns "The World's Great Travelers."

OK Oz - I did not major in math- but Randy says he is 3/4 done--- I cant figure out how you can be 3/4 done on picking two people http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Maybe alternates?

Might ¾ done just mean he was 75% done with the selection process? Anyway, a tough job, as so many great candidates put themselves forward. Hope they have a wonderful adventure, whomever gets the final nod. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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~ Glen ~ Calling all United 1K Members - please join .. www.1Kflyers.com

Hmmm ... I never received an email either. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/confused.gif

Guess it's too late now ... rats!

The Forum moderator might be able to assist you with this one? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

OK... FT can start helping the team out now!

We can help out by doing some research in our free time.

Tasks:
A) Visa Requirements for an American for the below countries.
B) Check for Shots & Innoculations for the below countries.

Possible Countries:
Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bhutan, Cambodia, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Laos,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tibet, Turkey, Vatican City, Vietnam

I do not believe Australia is a country possible re this???

Australia is included in the list of countries that contestants are told they might visit.

http://www.greatescape2002.com/countrydatabase.html

The only countries that the contestants will be required to ge t visa's from BEFORE departure are India and China. The other ones can be obtained in country @ point of entry, or like the australian one, done electronically by airline @ departure.

Marc

I know I'm a newby, but this long thread is just so exciting. I'm usually just a 'lurker', but I check this thread 5-6 times a day just to eagerly see who is chosen for the TEAM. This is
so much fun!! For me, I can live vicariously on the whole trip. Hopefully, the team will send updates daily on the trip. Good luck! cmtrepp

I'm with cmtrepp--I've been checking this thread frequently, too. Also can't wait for the team to be announced--it's fun feeling like we're all a part of this! Personally have had my fingers crossed for Spiff to be a member of the team, but realize Randy has a LOT of good candidates to choose from, and it's bound to be a great team, whomever he picks.

Welcome aboard, cmtrepp! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif


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The perfect ladies' man is a perfect gentleman.

Me too - I hardly ever visit Community normally, but at the moment I'm checking it before any other forum!

Maybe it's me, but is this team going to be announced anytime soon? Don't mean to sound impatient or anything. . .curious minds just want to know!

Interesting.
The (shorter) list of countries I posted weeks back was pasted from
http://www.greatescape2002.com/presskit.html
(which is still up, and which lists fewer possible destinations.)
The shorter list still allows for 4 continents, if you count No. America.

Countries to be explored on four continents that may be included in GreatEscape2002® The Global Scavenger Hunt™ are: Japan, Korea, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Nepal, India, Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Italy, Slovenia, France, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Hungry, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Austria, Andorra, Spain and Canada.

kitson, yes I could not see the word Australia listed above either, but as always I might be mistaken . http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif Above list looks very like routing Europe to Asia to Canada (or USA.)

Seems like (a) the organisers have either changed their minds or (b) are not talking to each other very closely on this as both of their web sites conflict.

Any news on who from this community will be participating? Randy, can you give us a hint?

My TravelPro's are ready to go. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Maybe, at this late date Randy has already contacted the people he has chosen, and they are just staying quiet. I was hoping it would be me, but as the days and hours pass. I'm losing that lucky feeling. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif So if I'm not picked, I'll just go to Hawaii http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif That should make me feel better.

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Somewhere in the world a Boeing jet is taking off or landing every second —24 hours a day, seven days a week.

You lost, that luuuuuuuuuucky feeeeeeeeling, go to Hawaii for heeeeeeealin' you lost that LUuuuucky feeeling but your going, going gone whoa whoa whoa. (sorry, warped sense of humor started earlier than usual today) http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Not bad - we have to get that on tape, it can be the theme song!

That is that funniest thing I've read all day http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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Somewhere in the world a Boeing jet is taking off or landing every second —24 hours a day, seven days a week.

My $50 donation I put on my Amex for this trip has never posted to Amex. Has anyone had there donation show up on their credit card?

Did Randy process the donations yet?

Here's the news. I did not post the teams (I had decided with all the interest to sponsor two teams (four members of FlyerTalk)) because there was a lingering problem with this years' GreatEscape2002. It seems they have been unable to secure the necessary insurance to cover this years event due in part because of the shadow of war in The Middle East between U.S.-Iraq. As a result, this years event has been cancelled by GreatEscape2002, a real disappointment to us since i honestly feel we had two very strong teams and no doubt would have won some of the honors.

As for the above question about credit cards being charged - We had already paid team fees of $19,800 but decided to hold off charging any members credit cards until there was a final decision regarding this lingering insurance issue (their issue not ours). There should be no one member that was changed for their donation - but save your money, there will be another time when we will need your help with something.

Thanks for the continuing interest and i really do feel we would have been able to call FlyerTalk the home of the "World's Greatest Travelers."

wow - I feel strongly for Freddie jun now missing this adventure, as a companion of one of the two teams - on the other hand, I am glad Freddie jun didn't have to choose between two teams http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Thanks for your support of the process Randy.

Going into next year I would recommend the application process take place with much more advance notice, and perhaps let the people in the running understand where they are on the list to decide whether to take leave of absences/vacation at work.

I think that with proper advertising and a partnership with FT that this sort of trip can be successfull in the future.

Chris

Randy,

Thanks a lot for all the effort put into this, I am sure FT would have provided a worldclass team!

Scott

I'll be available for the next one ....is that enough notice or what?
Thanks to Randy for all the orgainisation, sorry it couldn't go ahead.

Thanks Randy--remember, we could put the money to maintaining this board. I support the biddingfortravel board and I don't use it all that much. Both have saved me considerable $$$ and led me into a whole new world of friends.

If you ever need help keepin' it going, just say the word!

Thanks for everything Randy. I can't say I'm not disappointed, but thank you for everything regardless,

Marc

that's a bummer that the event got nixed
over insurance - though i started wondering
with all the nervousness going on now.

I'm told from the head of GreatEscape2002 that the next event is already on schedule for mid-April of next year - i think it is april 12th. So we will return as a team and like others, i'm already trying to make sure my schedule is clear as I'd like to take a 'mileage run' at this. But, continue to acknowledge that there are some fantastic travelers here on FT and will likely revert back to being team coach and fundraiser. I'm a good team player.

Thanks Randy. I was so looking forward to this adventure. I will tune in next April.

I am soooo disappointed that there is not a big global race that I wanted to watch and "participate" in, but I understand the delicate times we are in. I hope my son, 12, sees the significance of 'difficult times' that we are in , that has disrupted his massive interest in this race, that it all will be reavealed as pertinent to postpone it for the time being. Oh well, I hope to be an active observer next spring. Good Luck to the Winners!! Cmtrepp

It is disappointing that it had to be canceled this year, however maybe it will be a good thing. With more time to plan maybe more people from FT can participate, even if they are not a sponsored team. I know that I'm not the only one that would be willing to put up the majority/all of the money to pay for the trip with this much time to plan. This really opens up a lot of opportunities for the entire FT community. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif

Put me in the pool for next year as well...
Qualifications to be posted when we know if it'll actually happen. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Another thought...if there are to be two teams for next year, perhaps one can be composed of experienced FTers and another of newbies?
Just a thought.

I just got an e-mail from Randy dated 31 Dec 2002 soliciting support for GreatEscape2002.

Was that intended to be 2003, or was this an accidental re-send of the one for last year?

What ever happened to FT participating in this in following years. They made the TV show out of it so did it become to difficult to be selected?