I too can't understand why the LDs decided to not pay any trips after Pokemon USA said thed pay for #1.
Lia: Norwegian nats is May 10th-11th(2 day event) Dunno if that really is important, but its a fact worth knowing
Hi M, Great to hear you are getting 2 days, with the attendance Norway got last year that's the best option.
About the trips.
I can even tell you a worser story.
After our Nationals were announced and the prizes were published, suddenly the LD took away the trip to Worlds.
So what happened?
I am not sure, but our LD claimed he was paying for the trips (so he could take them away like he did).
I think (and beware I am not sure about this) they found out PUI/POP is paying for the first place winners and there was no need for them to pay anything.
This is the way how players are handled in very rare situations.
In my opinion:
There is money to send the 2nd place winners, but it's up to the LD and they refuse.
I think PUI/POP should have done it this way:
Each LD who sends his/her first place winners to Worlds (paid by the LD) gets an additional (second place) trip from PUI/POP for each agegroup.
That way I have the feeling it would have worked out the way it was "planned".
But leaving the option at the LD's never worked and never will work (except in Germany their LD has done a very good job).
And in Slovenia the LD is paying for 1 trip (only in Juniors) but still that's much more than all those BIG LD's in Europe. (Slovenia is not getting any PUI/POP trips, so props for them too).