Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to purchase medical insurance, if I come from one of the EU countries?

If you are a player from one of the EU countries, you can obtain the form E111 (or The European Health Insurance Card, which has recently replaced this form) from the social security administrator of your home country and receive treatment in the Finnish public health care system on the same conditions as a Finnish citizen.  Please be advised that this treatment only constitutes emergency medical aid and will not cover items such as knee or ankle surgery.  The extent of the care can best be described as "sufficient to allow you to travel back to your home country safely".  If you do wish to receive priority treatment at a private clinic, you must have proof of a separate insurance policy that specifically covers injuries in competitive sports such as ultimate and guts.

I plan on renting a car or bike. Should I reserve one in advance?

Hertz has promised to deliver all cars and bikes that are reserved in advance (i.e. before July 31st). They will also make their best to deliver all cars and bikes that are requested during the tournament. However, Neste Rally Finland takes place during the same week as WUGC2004 and the general demand of cars is likely to exceed the capacity of most renting companies. The TOC encourages you to make reservation in advance by using this form.

Turku and its surroundings are ideal for sightseeing on your own. There's virtually no congestion in the roads outside rush hours (7.00 - 9.00 a.m. and 3.00 - 6.00 p.m.). It takes about 10 minutes to drive a car from Kupittaa to Kaarina and only a little more from Kupittaa to Raisio. By bike the beautiful Finnish countryside and archipelago is only a half an hour ride away from Kupittaa.

Should I register as a guest or player if I have applied for a staff position?

If you are going to play, you must register as a player.

If you intend to work as staff, you don't need to register as a guest, unless you wish to reserve accommodation in categories A to F. Staff workers will get free accommodation in category G and free meals.

How can I register as a guest and make accommodation reservations?

Here are some guidelines for making your accommodation and guest package reservations if you will join the tournament as a non-player:

1) The best way to make your hotel reservation is to ask your national association to register you as a guest. That way we can best keep track of all reservations. You don't need to be involved with the team in any other way apart from booking your guest and accommodation package. Also meal and airport pick-up packages can be booked through your country’s coordinator.

The guest package costs 50 € and includes access to all venues and events during the tournament as well as bus transportations within the tournament area.

2) Groups of over 10 people can register as guests and book accommodation and other packages directly through the tournament provided that the whole group will stay in the same hotel. The email address for these reservations is registration-at-wugc2004.org. The accommodation reservations should be made before the tournament week.

3) In order to book the airport pick-up you should be registered as a guest. This way we will get information on your arrival time through our reservation system and can plan the bus timetables in the best possible way.

Guest packages are also available at the tournament site. Once you are registered as a guest you can book other services as well.

4) The last possibility is to book your hotel individually. A couple of hotels which have free capacity left at the moment are:

Sokos Hotel Hamburger Börs / Sokos Hotel City Börs and Scandic Hotel Plaza

Are there other room types than doubles?

The default option is two persons per room, unless otherwise stated.

How far it is from the school accommodation to the Tournament Restaurant?

From the school it is only one kilometer to the Tournament Restaurant at Kupittaa.

Is camping possible?

The TOC will not offer a camping option, as there are no suitable camping sites nearby, and a temporary one cannot be set up due to weather contingencies. The closest camping sites are more than 10 km away and are usually fully booked and expensive during August. We will offer school accommodation, which we think is a very good alternative to camping. You will be able to stay indoors, have access to bathrooms with showers and a kitchen. What's more, we will provide camping mattrasses for everyone. The school is located very close to the fields.

What is the general price level in Turku?

The price level in general is similar to most of Western and Northern Europe, although Turku is generally not quite as expensive as Helsinki. A Bic Mac Meal costs 4,95 euros and a complete meal at a nicer restaurant something between 10 and 20 euros. A beer at a bar is around 3 to 5 euros.

When should I arrive in Turku?

Saturday, July 31st 2004, is check-in day. We expect all teams to check in any time during that day. The opening ceremony, including the opening game, will be held on Saturday evening. All the accommodation options that we offer are flexible, so it is possible to arrive earlier during the week as well.

Is it possible to book the airport pick up for only one direction? Will the busses be running before the 31st July?

To Turku direction the busses will be running on Friday July 30^th and on Saturday July 31st and from Turku on Saturday August 7^th and on Sunday August 8th. We will set the more exact schedules according to the arrival times of the teams.

The airport pick-up service costs 30€, also for one direction only.

How do I get to Turku during the tournament week?

Read the information for individual travelers arriving/departing via Helsinki and via Tampere.

Will there be any activity after the finals?

The finals will be played in the afternoon on Saturday, August 7th. After the finals there will be a closing ceremony followed by a big final party. We expect everyone to stay at least until Sunday, August 8th (all accommodation options are from July 31st to August 8th unless otherwise requested).

How windy is Turku?

Although Turku is located by the Baltic Sea, it is not really that windy. The coast line is characterized by a vast archipelago with lots of forests, which break down the wind before it gets ashore. Compared to earlier World Championship tournaments, Turku is probably in the same category in windiness as Minneapolis, Vancouver or Heilbronn, but not as windy as St.Andrews, Hawaii or Jönköping.

When will you contact me regarding my staff application?

The staff members have been selected, and an invitation letter has been e-mailed to the staff in May-June with details about the planned job.

However, due to ever possible late cancellations there might be needs to fill gaps, so some of the volunteers may still be contacted with an offer to join.

If you have any questions related to the staffing please contact Laura (laura-at-wugc2004.org).

Detailed information about practicalities is now posted on this site within the Staff section (requires login).

Will there be an anti-doping policy?

Yes. WFDF has released the first version of the new WFDF Anti-doping Rules. These rules will be in effect during WUGC 2004. Please familiarize yourself with them as they apply to all participating teams and players. Please make sure that if you are taking any medication, it is not on the list of banned substances. If you are not sure, contact the doctor, who prescribed the medication. If your medication is on the prohibited list and you cannot take an alternative substance, you should apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption. Please notice: Ultimate responsibility for the use of a prohibited substance rests with the athlete in all cases.

Are there any requirements on the uniforms for teams?

The WFDF rules about uniforms and sponsorship logos are in effect in Turku.