ISU

On December 4, 2022, the International Skating Union (ISU) together with a variety of partners, national federations and skating clubs from all over the globe celebrated the first ever World Ice Skating Day (WISD). This inaugural edition was a success with events organized in 47 countries and at 170 ice rinks worldwide (read here). To boost a competitive spirit amongst the WISD organizers, the ISU announced the “Best WISD 2022” contest, which aims at rewarding the most successful WISD actions based on a list of specific criteria and targets (read here). Among the 25 nominees shortlisted for the 2022 Awards, the ISU is delighted to announce Indonesia (Federasi Ice Skating Indonesia) as winner of the Best WISD 2022 in the 500+ attending participants category, together with Mexico for the category involving less than 500 participants. The Ice Academy of Montreal (CAN) won the Best #WISDance category, awarding the most creative WISD signature choreography.

The Qualification Systems for the 4th Winter Youth Olympic Games (hereafter called YOG) for all three ISU disciplines (Figure Skating, Speed Skating and Short Track Speed Skating) have been approved by the IOC Executive Board.

The ISU continues to support the training and development of promising Skaters and their Coaches by offering opportunities for quality coaching and mentoring at ISU Centers of Excellence (CoE).

The ISU Development Commission is pleased to invite ISU Members to make applications for 2023 Scholarship support for their Junior Skaters.

This Communication summarizes the main general obligations of ISU Members, according to the ISU Statutes (see Article 39, paragraph 1 of the ISU Constitution for the definition of the ISU Statutes) and according to established procedures. This does not alter the obligation of ISU Members to adhere to those Rules contained in the ISU Statutes which are not specifically referred to in this Communication.

The ISU invites ISU Members to submit bid applications to host ISU Championships during seasons 2023/24 to 2027/28.

The Russian Anti-Doping Agency's (RUSADA's) disciplinary tribunal rendered a decision in the case of Russian Figure Skater, Kamila Valieva, finding that although the athlete had committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation, she bore “no fault or negligence” for it. As such, the tribunal imposed no sanction except for the disqualification of her results at the Russian Figure Skating Championship in Saint-Petersburg in December 2021.

Further to ISU Communication No. 2523 and after having received ISU Members’ applications, the ISU recognized the announced Seminars for Referees and Judges.

Further to ISU Communication No. 2521 and after having received ISU Members’ applications, the ISU recognized the announced Seminars for Referees and Judges.

Following the completion of the ISU World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Dresden, GER, on January 27-29, 2023, the initial allocation of Winter Youth Olympic Games 2024 quota places has been concluded.

We are pleased to announce that the ISU Healthy Skater seminar series is back and shall take place during the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships 2023 in Calgary, Canada. The theme for this edition’s seminar is "The Junior Elite Skater- Understanding Adolescent Development".

All Officials who continue to meet the criteria as outlined in the Special Regulations and who, considering the period of time elapsed since their initial appointment, require re-certification are eligible for acceptance to the Frankfurt Seminar 2023 – recertification program.

The ISU Council met on January 16, 2023 and decided to provisionally allot the following ISU Figure Skating Championships for the seasons 2024/25 and 2025/26:

Following the decision of the 2022 ISU Congress to test a new Starting Procedure for Short Track Speed Skating (“Zero False Starts”), it was decided to conduct the tests during the ISU 4 Continents Championships and four ISU World Cup Short Track Competitions.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has published the 2023 List of Prohibited Substances and Methods (List), which came into force on January 1, 2023.