The International Skating Union (ISU) and the Japan Skating Federation (JSF) in cooperation with TV Asahi Corporation have agreed to hold an international Team Figure Skating Competition, the “ISU World Team Trophy” for the first time ever in Tokyo, Japan, during the 2008/09 season. The subsequent “ISU World Team Trophy” event will also be held in Japan during the season 2010/11. TV Asahi has acquired the TV rights for the territory of Japan for both events.

The “ISU World Team Trophy” is an ISU Event that is unprecedented in the long ISU history. The competition will involve representative teams from the 6 highest ranked ISU Members, including the host ISU Member. Each team is composed of 2 men single skaters, 2 lady single skaters, 1 pair skating couple and 1 Ice Dance couple. The qualifying system to determine the 6 qualifying teams will take into account the results of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating events & Final and the ISU World Figure Skating Championships immediately preceding the ISU World Team Trophy. The procedure of qualification is included in the ISU Announcement and Communication.

The first event is scheduled to be held in Tokyo on April 16-19, 2009, the date of the second event in the season 2010/11will be announced in due time.

The ISU wishes to extend congratulations to the Japan Skating Federation and TV Asahi for their participation in the launch of a new ISU Event which will contribute in the further development of Figure Skating worldwide.

ISU Communication 1490