Not Joining 2022 HK VG Nats

I will not join in the 2022 Hong Kong (HK) VG Nationals to be held on 12 Jun 2022.

Previously for VGC events in HK that were in Regional+ level, they were organized by Nintendo HK with the support of local "helpers". 

The event registration was opened in late May 2022 and I did register for event as usual. After the registration closed and before the announcement of registration results, I received a helper's messages:

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"While checking on your registration, you wrote 'TL' in your name. Will you supplement the full name? There will be identity checking when entering the venue of the event." (That is, initials instead of full given name was provided.)

"Will my full name be shown publicly throughout the event if I supplement it?" (What I meant: the name showing in pairings, on stream, in results, etc)

"Yes."

"Previous HK events and even worldwide events accepted registration with initials.  Is it that initials will not be accepted this time?"

"Initials will not be accepted."

"I can provide the full name for identity checking purpose. However, if the event will show my full name publicly, I won't join." (I provided full name as well.)

"If you decide not to join, please fill in the cancellation form."

"What if I don't fill in the cancellation and refuse to adopt full name?"

"You will not be permitted to enter the venue nor participate in it."

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Another policy in the registration is that "If you secure a seat but absent from the event without cancellation, the absentee may result in a ban for the events in the whole 2023 season". After careful deliberations, I decided not to join the event by filling in the cancellation form.

I am not going to explain in depth about the concerns related to the full name (or face) showing publicly in the events (it's about risks to my daily lives outside VGC circles). To cope with the concerns, I adopted initials for VGC events in the past, which had been accepted over the seasons, no matter locals or even worldwide in Internationals and Woulds that I had been participated and did have identity checks.

Anyway, that identity checking is what the policy that the organizer imposes. There are no local laws enforcing the use of full name in large events in HK. (There is a "vaccine pass" requirement in local laws to receive 3 doses of vaccine that applies though, it accepts vaccination records in a form of QR code which consists of initials only and I've received 3 doses, so that's doesn't matter.) Perhaps there are other concerns arising from the COVID-19 pandemic for imposing such policy.

That's nothing I can do with that but not joining the event this time. It is a pity. I do hope that the "naming policy" could be relaxed when the pandemic gets better. Some may say that the policy would continue, if so it may be the time to me ending the VGC journey and focusing on my daily lives then.

Last but not least, it has been joyful in meeting friends in the VGC events over the seasons. Also, I would like to say THANK YOU to the "helpers" of local events, without their support there were hardly with events in HK, and HK could send worlds qualifier every year.

- TL aka かりん～★ @karin_703