The International Skating Union’s 53rd Ordinary Congress concluded on 18 June in Barcelona (ESP) in front of over 250 delegates from more than 70 ISU Member federations. Four days earlier the Congress had been officially opened by ISU President Mr. Ottavio Cinquanta, who made a special acknowledgement of thanks to the ISU’s Spanish Member, Federacion Española de Deportes De Hielo, presided by Ms. Maria-Teresa Samaranch for their organization of the Congress and their emerging role in the development of skating. On Friday Mr. Cinquanta was re-elected by acclamation.
Key decisions by the Congress:
Speed Skating
Several format changes to the ISU World Allround Speed Skating Championships and ISU World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships were passed.
Congress voted in favor of a better definition of the role of Corner Judges at each curve.
A number of updates to incorporate “state-of-the-art” safety measures and padding solutions were approved.
Deliberate kicking out of a skate at the finish line, which entails a safety risk, would now lead to disqualification as per the Congress decision.
Short Track
Several proposals to better regulate the Short Track Speed Skating World Cup were passed by Congress.
The Congress approved the Short Track Technical Committee proposals to update safety measures and padding solutions.
As of the season 2011/2012 the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships will no longer be held.
The Congress decided that one of the referees shall monitor the video replay where applicable.
Single and Pair Skating and Ice Dance
A new format of competition in Ice Dance consisting of two parts/segments: a Short Dance and a Free Dance (as opposed to a Compulsory Dance, Original Dance and Free Dance) was approved by Congress.
Congress passed a change to implement a qualifying procedure to effectively reduce the number of entries at Championships and has also accepted a reduction of the number of skaters in the Free Skating.
The ISU World Team Trophy in Figure Skating (which was successfully inaugurated in April 2009) has been integrated into the General Regulations as an ISU Event
The Council, Sports Directorate, Single and Pair Skating and Ice Dance Technical Committees proposed several changes to make the rules consistent across disciplines, this harmonization of the rules were unanimously approved.
Synchronized Skating
Adjustments to the required elements for the Short Program and Free Skating were approved.
Deductions, Reductions in Free Skating. Several changes to the deductions were passed including an increase in the severity of deductions for costume and make-up transgressions (among other deduction changes). There will be no more feathers (minus 1 deduction).
Rule Clarifications - a series of proposals were put forward and then approved to clarify the current rules and to harmonize with other Figure Skating disciplines.
The present ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Challenge Cup has been accepted as an ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships.
Election Results
The Congress elected the following ISU Office Holders:
1. Council
President:
Ottavio Cinquanta, Italy
1st Vice President: Figure Skating
David M. Dore, Canada
2nd Vice President: Speed Skating
Jan Dijkema, Netherlands
Members
Figure Skating:
Marie Lundmark, Finland
Junko Hiramatsu, Japan
Phyllis Howard, USA
Tjasa Andrée-Prosenc, Slovenia
Speed Skating
György Martos, Hungary
German Panov, Russia
Li Lan, China
Roland Maillard, Switzerland
2. Technical Committees
Single and Pair Skating
Chair:
Alexander Lakernik, Russia
Members
Fabio Bianchetti, Italy
Rita Zonnekeyn, Belgium
Susan Lynch, Australia
Ice Dance
Chair:
Halina Gordon-Poltorak, Poland
Members:
Robert Joseph Horen, USA
Gilles Vandenbroeck, France
Alla Shekhovtsova, Russia
Synchronized Skating
Chair:
Christopher Buchanan, Great Britain
Members:
Mika Saarelainen, Finland
Karen Wolanchuk, USA
Philippe Maitrot, France
Speed Skating
Chair:
Tron Espeli, Norway
Members
Nick Thometz, USA
Alexander Kibalko, Russia
Jae Seok Choi, Republic of Korea
Short Track Speed Skating
Chair:
Andy Gabel, USA
Members
Stoytcho G. Stoytchev, Bulgaria
Reinier Oostheim, Netherlands
Ji-Hoon Chae, Republic of Korea
4. Disciplinary Commission
Chair: Béatrice Pfister, Switzerland
Members:
Volker Waldeck, Germany
Allan Böhm, Slovak Republic
Fred Benjamin, USA
Egbert Schmid, Austria
5. Honorary Members
Newly elected Honorary Vice President
Gerhard Zimmermann, Germany
Newly Elected Honorary Members
Courtney Jones, O.B.E., Great Britain
Myong-Hi Chang, Republic of Korea
Jim Hawkins, USA
Gerhardt Bubnik, Czech Republic
Ulf Linden, Sweden
