justony

Just saw @Werloc perform at Lithuanian preselection, a little late, but still. Have to admit I am not a musician, but am watching Eurovision closely enough for many years, and this song is really very nice. Quite melodic, very nice connection between lead and back vocals, not too forcing with this rhythm change in the middle of the song. If you nearly made it through first round, you either have a lot of very good performers or there is something ("Eurovision politics like") in the air. Anyway, once again, congratulations, and best of wishes in next round. For all those who did not seen his performance yet, now is the chance. Enjoy!

So, on Monday it was decided, will lead Vesna Fabjan, she won public voting through FB page of our national radio broadcaster by 6 votes margin ahead of Mitja Robar.

These are Slovenian candidates, so here is list of performers in EMA 2018 Artist Title Anabel POZITIVA BQL PTICA Gregor Ravnik ZDAJ JE ČAS Ina Shai V NEBO Indigo VESNA KiNG FOO ŽIVE SANJE Lara Kadis ZDAJ SEM TU Lea Sirk CIRQUE ManuElla DAN POTEM Marina Martensson BLIZU MILA SVOBODA Nika Zorjan USPAVANKA (LULLABY) Nuška Drašček NE ZAPUSTI ME ZDAJ Orter TISOČ LET Proper UKRADEN CVET Tanja Ribič LJUDJE Intereseting, Tanja Ribič (Eurovision 1997; Zbudi se) is coming back after last year's performance of her daughter Zala (La la latino). There is also Manuella, representing our country few years ago, some other familiar faces from other festivals and also some new names, as always, but nothing spectacular. System: 16 songs in 2 semifinals, 8 in the final (4 according to public vote; 4 according to jury vote). In the final there will be 6 different juries, contributing 50 % of votes, other 50 % comes from people. Semifinal will be broadcast on February 17th, Final on 24th. In semifinal all songs must be sung in Slovenian, as in the Final artists have free choice of language.

Unbelievable start to Euro, hoping to be best one so far. I am heading to Ljubljana on Saturday to watch - and - .

Yes, I saw that, really weird and sad.

Now can finally compete also in team event, which would be nice.

Really interesting and a bit surprising end of Euro So, are finally on top, is still filling their closets with medals, glad to see again in contention. took final spot for next year's WCH, as for concerns,let's leave all the worst behind, and try to think positive. With very young team finishing 8th, which is our fourth best result ever, so congratulations Vujo and co.

Yes, like I said

I believe it is first all medalists from previous events, then all other top 15 in World Cup Overall Standings, and in the end best performers of previous events in OG.

Wow, amazing job from our team, Ana 3rd, Nevena 6th and Maruša 10th

There are only two candidates left for carrying flag. Jakov Fak has resigned because of negativity of some ("so called") people. As you probably know, Fak is Croatian and was flagbearer for his home land at 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, where he won bronze in sprint (first ever Croatian biathlon medal), ahead of Klemen Bauer, who finished 4th. It looks our society has still some issues, therefore Fak decided to pull out of voting procedure, only two remaining candidates are now Vesna Fabjan and Mitja Robar, online voting is about to happen on Monday. Here is official link.

Well, our team definitely has more chance, though we have to go step by step, first qualification, then ...

Hoping for three. Main contenders Jakov Fak in biathlon Ski jumping men and women Possible surprises Snowboard parallel team (Košir, Marguč, Mastnak) Filip Flisar in SX Cross country ladies sprint and team sprint Women's GS (Drev, Robnik) and SL (Bucik) Men's GS (Kranjec)

I will not answer directly, just see you next year in WM final.

will choose flagbearer among three nominees: Jakov Fak (biathlon), Vesna Fabjan (cross country skiing) and Mitja Robar (ice hockey). It will be publicly voted during team presentation next week. I am hoping for Fak.

Actually we lost second quota because we did not send our women relay to one of World cup races. For this cycle, to be fair, we would have to send only Eržen, because most points was distributed by Teja Gregorin, which, as we know, was banned for doping. Therefore my opininon is they should modernize standards.

How stupid is that, four years ago was among best mixed relay teams, even with silver from WCH, and because of obscure rules, they were not allowed to sent two female biathletes to Sochi. This time Gregorin is banned and somehow we will sent Poje on her expense. These IBU quotas are very dumb, if you ask me.

The only skier from Slovenia mentioned these days outside those 11 already chosen is Klara Livk, but knowing that our NOC rarely changes their decision, she will probably stay home, no matter what.

I got a little satisfaction, when Germany and Macedonia finished behind us. Take that, EHF and Germany.

Road to Pyeongchang 2018 Official OKS list (71 athletes / 9 sports) Alpine Skiing (11) Boštjan Kline - DH, SG, K Klemen Kosi - DH, SG, K Martin Čater - DH, SG, K Žan Kranjec - GS, SL Miha Hrobat - GS, SL, K (?) Štefan Hadalin - GS, SL, K (?) Ana Drev - GS Ana Bucik - SL, GS, K (?) Maruša Ferk - SL, GS, SG, DH, K Meta Hrovat - SL, GS Tina Robnik - SL, GS Biathlon (7) Klemen Bauer Mitja Drinovec Miha Dovžan Jakov Fak Lenart Oblak Anja Eržen Urška Poje Cross Country Skiing (7 or 8) Janez Lampič Miha Šimenc Alenka Čebašek Vesna Fabjan Anamarija Lampič Nika Razinger Katja Višnar Lea Einfalt / Manca Slabanja (awaiting confirmation) Freestyle Skiing (1) Filip Flisar Ice Hockey (25) Men's National Team Luge (1) Tilen Sirše Nordic Combined (2) Marjan Jelenko Vid Vrhovnik Ski Jumping (9; 12 candidates) Tilen Bartol Jernej Damjan Žiga Jelar Domen Prevc Peter Prevc Anže Semenič Timi Zajc Urša Bogataj Ema Klinec Nika Križnar Špela Rogelj Maja Vtič Snowboarding (8) Žan Košir - PGS Rok Marguč - PGS Tim Mastnak - PGS Tim - Kevin Ravnjak - HP Tit Štante - HP Gloria Kotnik - PGS Urška Pribošič - BA Kaja Verdnik - HP It is quite similar to my own provisional list. Here are all changes: - in Alpine Skiing Miha Hrobat was added to the list, because has 11 athletes in quota - for Cross Country Skiing Einfalt or Slabanja could come through, they are waiting for international confirmation - in Luge, finally wise decision. Two athletes (Sirše and Biruš) achieve international quota, but not national quota. Therefore it was decided better one (Sirše) will represent Slovenian luge in Pyeongchang. - Ski jumping: coaches Goran Janus (Men) and Stane Baloh (Ladies) can pick 5 male and 4 female jumpers till end of this week freely - in Snowboarding there is no Jure Hafner (first in waiting list-PGS), but there is Pribošič, though she also currently sits in first spot among reserves One more fact to conclude: - This will be the biggest expedition so far at Winter Olympics, but without Hockey team was repesented with 1 (one) more individual in Vancouver 2010.

OKS has confirmed - 71 in Pyeongchang It is now official, will compete in Pyeongchang with 71 athletes. - Second time in history we will be represented in team sports (men's hockey) - 71 athletes is the biggest expedition ever at Winter Olympics (66 in Sochi, 47 in Vancouver) - will be represented in 9 out of 15 sports (8 in Sochi, 10 in Vancouver) - Missing athletes in Figure skating, Skeleton from once represented (never had athletes in both Speed Skating, Bob and Curling) You can find more exact list of athletes in Slovenia National Thread.

Great team effort from our girls. With good attacking run there is quite possible to advance, so hoping for at least one in top 10 and another two in top 15.

You can see how many athletes will Slovenia potentionaly have in Pyeongchang on this link.

Road to Pyeongchang 2018 (60 + 13 athletes) Note: on this site you will see potential athletes names, representing Slovenia at Winter Olympics in 2018. OKS (Slovenian Olympic Comitee) has its internal standard an athlete has to achieve (16th or better in World Cup / 8th for Team). Therefore this list serves only for orientation and is not an official one. There are also some athletes with international standard (Luge). UPDATED after January 21st 2018 Alpine Skiing (9 + 1) Martin Čater - DH (11th Wengen), SG (15th Beaver Creek), K (7th Bormio) Štefan Hadalin - SL (16th Val d'Isere), GS (16th Beaver Creek) Boštjan Kline - SG (13th Val Gardena) Klemen Kosi - K (12th Bormio) Žan Kranjec - GS (3rd Alta Badia; 5th Adelboden; 7th Val d'Isere; 14th Beaver Creek) Ana Bucik - SL (9th Levi; 9th Oslo (CE)) Ana Drev - GS (6th Lienz; 8th Killington; 11th Courchevel) Meta Hrovat - GS (8th Lienz; 13th Kranjska Gora) Tina Robnik - GS (7th Kranjska Gora; 9th Soelden; 11th Lienz; 16th Killington) --------------------with 2016/17 standard-------------------------------------------------------------------- Maruša Ferk - K (5th Crans Montana; 12th Val d'Isere) Ilka Štuhec - SL (10th Maribor), GS (14th Maribor), SG (2 wins; 4 podiums), DH (4 wins; 6 podiums), K (1 win; 3 podiums) INJURED Biathlon (2 + 5) Klemen Bauer - IN (10th Oestersund) Jakov Fak - SP (3rd Hochfilzen; 7th Oberhof; 10th Oestersund; 13th Annecy), PU (2nd Hochfilzen / Oestersund; 11th Oberhof; 13th Annecy), IN (12th Oestersund; 14th Ruhpolding), MS (8th Annecy; 10th Ruhpolding; 12th Antholz) --------------------- with International Standard---------------------------------------------------------------- Miha Dovžan Lenart Oblak Mitja Drinovec Anja Eržen Urška Poje Bobsleigh (-) Cross Country Skiing (5 + 3) Alenka Čebašek - SP (7th Dresden), TS (5th Dresden), RE (7th Ulricehamn 2017) Anamarija Lampič - SP (13th Planica; 16th Davos), DI (10th Lenzerheide), RE (7th Ulricehamn 2017) Vesna Fabjan - SP (12th Dresden), TS (5th Dresden) Katja Višnar - SP (14th Planica), RE (7th Ulricehamn 2017) Lea Einfalt - RE (7th Ulricehamn 2017) ---------------------with 2016 / 2017 standards------------------------ Janez Lampič - SP (11th Drammen) --------------------- International standards (most likely)------------------- Miha Šimenc Nika Razinger Curling (-) Figure Skating (-) Daša Grm (Ladies) is only possible option, she is currently lying 6th in waiting list, so chances are very slim. Freestyle Skiing (1) Filip Flisar - SX (5th Innichen II; 13th Montafon; 15th Innichen I) Ice Hockey (25) National Team - Qualified for Men Event Luge (0 + 2) ----------------------- with International Standard------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Žiga Biruš - Singles (38th Oberhof; 45th Lake Placid; 45th Koenigsee; 50th Calgary; 56th Altenberg; 61st Winterberg; 65th Innsbruck) Tilen Sirše - Singles (42nd Oberhof; 43rd Lake Placid; 44th Altenberg; 44th Koenigsee; 45th Innsbruck; 47th Calgary; 50th Winterberg) Nordic Combined (0 + 2) ----------------------- with International Standard------------------------------ Marjan Jelenko - best 24th/31st Ruka; 29th Chaux-Neuve Vid Vrhovnik - best 26th/27th Ruka Short Track Speed Skating (-) Skeleton (-) Ski Jumping (10; only 9 eligible) Tilen Bartol - LH (5th Garmish - Partenkirchen; 16th Oberstdorf) Jernej Damjan - LH (1st Ruka; 5th Innsbruck; 9th Titisee-Neustadt; 10th Nizhny Tagil II; 13th Ga-Pa; 14th Oberstdorf; 15th Oberstdorf FLY WCH) Peter Prevc - LH (6th Kulm FLY; 6th Oberstdorf FLY WCH; 8th Garmisch - Partenkirchen; 8th Bischofshofen; 13th Nizhny Tagil I; 14th/16th Engelberg) Anže Semenič- LH (8th Kulm FLY; 9h Nizhny Tagil I; 14th Oberstdorf FLY WCH) Timi Zajc - LH (12th Nizhny Tagil I) Domen Prevc - LH (11th Kulm FLY) Urša Bogataj - LH (8th Lillehammer), NH (6th/9th Sapporo; 10th/14th Lillehammer; 10th/15th Zao; 11th Hinterzarten) Ema Klinec - LH (11th Lillehammer), NH (6th/8th Zao ; 8th Sapporo II; 10th Hinterzarten) Nika Križnar - NH (4th/7th Zao; 10th Lillehammer II, 13th Hinterzarten), LH (12th Lillehammer) Špela Rogelj - NH (9th/9th Lillehammer; 11th Zao I) Snowboarding (9) Jure Hafner - PSL (16th Cortina d'Ampezzo) Žan Košir - PGS (4th Lackenhof; 9th Rogla II) Rok Marguč - PGS (2nd Lackenhof; 13th Cortina d'Ampezzo; 15th Bad Gastein PSL) Tim Mastnak - PGS (8th/8th Rogla) Tim - Kevin Ravnjak - HP (4th Cardrona; 10th Secret Garden) Tit Štante - HP (16th Secret Garden) Gloria Kotnik - PGS (4th/10th Rogla; 8th Cortina d'Ampezzo), PSL (16th Cortina d'Ampezzo) Urška Pribošič - BA (11th Copper Mountain; 12th Beijing) Kaja Verdnik - HP (14th Laax) Speed Skating (-) 2016/17 Standards Alpine Skiing Boštjan Kline - DH (1st Kvitfjell; 4th Val d'Isere; 2 times 7th) QUALIFIED IN SG Biathlon Teja Gregorin - SP (8th Holmenkollen), PU (4th Holmenkollen), IN (12th Hochfilzen), MS (5th Hochfilzen) DOPING ABUSE Ski Jumping Jurij Tepeš - LH (7th Bischofshofen; 8th Willingen,...) Anže Lanišek - LH (4th Pyeongchang), NH (14th Pyeongchang) Cene Prevc - LH (8th Oberstdorf) Maja Vtič - LH (8th Oberstdorf I; 11th Oslo; 13th Oberstdorf II), NH (5th/5th Lillehammer; 8th Sapporo II,...) Eva Logar - NH (15th Zao I) RETIRED Snowboarding Tim Kevin Ravnjak - SS (11th Seiser Alm), BA (12th Moscow) QUALIFIED IN HP Urška Pribošič - SS (12th Mammoth Mt.; 14th Kreischberg; 14th Quebec City) QUALIFIED IN BA

Only Schladming (Men's SL) and Kronplatz (Ladies GS) to go, we will soon know, how many athletes is going to represent Slovenia at the Olympics. I live only few kilometers away from one of our lugers. Slovenia had already two spots in Sochi, but because of our hockey expedition no one from luge went to Russia. It is now almost certain Tilen Sirše will represent our country in Pyeongchang, fingers crossed.