
The International Skating Union (ISU) was founded in 1892 and is the oldest governing international winter sport federation.
During the last half of the nineteenth century, informal international competitions in both Speed Skating and Figure Skating were organized occasionally in different parts of the world. The first modern Speed Skating competition was held in Norway in 1863 and the first major International Speed Skating race was held in Hamburg (GER) in 1885. In 1882, the first International Figure Skating competition took place in Vienna (AUT).
With the emergence of international competitions, in both Speed Skating and Figure Skating, as well as the forming of skating clubs and of national associations, the need to establish international standards to govern these sports became more and more apparent. In July 1892, the Dutch association took the lead in calling for a meeting of representatives of all countries interested in international ice skating competitions.
As a result, the first Congress convened in Scheveningen (NED) and the ISU was created. The fifteen delegates present at the time, all from Europe, began to establish firm rules, laying down the foundations for international competitions in both disciplines. With the addition of Canada as a Member in 1894, the ISU expanded its horizons to become a truly international governing body.
Since the foundation of the ISU the ice skating disciplines have developed steadily over time to occupy the significant role they now enjoy in the world of sport.
TIMELINE
1889
First World Championships
The first World Championships in Speed Skating were held in Amsterdam (NED) for men only
1891
First European Championships
The first European Championships in both Speed Skating and Figure Skating (open to men only) were held at the same time in Hamburg (GER)
1892
First ISU Congress
On July 23rd 1892 the first ISU Congress took place in Scheveningen (NED) which gave birth to the International Skating Union
1893
First ISU Congress
The first World Championships in Speed Skating (open to men only) directly under the auspices of the ISU were held in Amsterdam (NED)
European Speed Skating & Figure Skating Championships
The European Speed Skating and Figure Skating Championships (for European men skaters only) were hosted together in Berlin (GER)
1896
First World Figure Skating Championships
The first World Figure Skating Championships (open to men only) were organized in St Petersburg (RUS)
1897
First World Championships outside Europe
The first World Championships (in Speed Skating) to be held outside Europe were organized in Montreal (CAN)
1906
First ISU Championships for Ladies
The first ISU Championships for Ladies Figure Skating were organized in Davos (SUI) and became World Championships in 1924
1908
First ISU Pair Skating Championships
The first ISU Championships for Pairs Figure Skating were held in St Petersburg (RUS) and became World Championships in 1924
First winter sport in the Olympic Games
Figure Skating (including events for Ladies, Men, Pairs and Special Figures) was the first winter sport to be included in the Olympic Games held in London (GBR)
1920
Figure Skating in the Olympic Games
Figure Skating (with events for Ladies, Men and Pairs) was included in the Olympic Games held in Antwerp (BEL)
1924
The First Olympic Winter Games
Both Speed Skating and Figure Skating were included in the official program of the first Olympic Winter Games, held in Chamonix (FRA)
1930
First World Figure Skating Championships outside Europe
The first World Figure Skating Championships to be held outside Europe, which included all three events together (Men, Ladies and Pairs), were held in New York City (USA)
1936
First Ladies Speed Skating World Championships
The first Speed Skating World Championships for Ladies were held in Stockholm (SWE) but would not become an Olympic competition for another twenty-four years
1950
First Ice Dance competition
The first international competition in ice dancing was held in London on the occasion of the World Figure Skating Championships
1952
First Ice Dance World Championships
The first World Championships in Ice Dancing were introduced held at the World Figure Skating Championships s in Paris (FRA)
1970
First ISU Sprint Speed Skating Championships
The first ISU Sprint Speed Skating Championships for Men and Ladies were inaugurated held in West Allis (USA) and became World Championships in 1972
1973
First ISU Junior Speed Skating Championships
The first ISU Junior Speed Skating Championships were held in Assen (NED) and became World Championships in 1974
1976
Ice Dance at the Olympic Winter Games
Ice Dancing was included in the official program for the first time at the Olympic Winter Games that were held in Innsbruck (AUT)
First ISU Junior Figure Skating Championships
The first ISU Junior Figure Skating Championships were held in Megève (FRA) and became World Championships in 1978
1978
First ISU Short Track Speed Skating Championships
The first ISU Short Track Speed Skating Championships, for Men and Ladies, were held in Solihull (GBR) and became World Championships in 1981s in 1981
1984
First ISU Congress outside Europe
The first ISU Congress to be held outside Europe took place in Colorado Springs (USA)
Inauguration of the ISU World Cup Speed Skating Series
The World Cup events series in Speed Skating were inaugurated. Separate circuits were held for Men and Ladies until 1996
1990
First ISU Congress to be held in Oceania
The first ISU Congress to be held in Oceania took place in Christchurch (NZL)
1991
First World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships
The first World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships were held in Seoul (KOR)
1992
ISU 100th Anniversary
The International Skating Union celebrates its 100th anniversary
Short Track Speed Skating in the Olympic Winter Games
Short Track Speed Skating was included in the official program of the Olympic Winter Games, held in Albertville (FRA)
1994
First World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships
The first World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships for Men and Ladies were held in Seoul (KOR)
1995
ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series
The Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series and Final were started
ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series
World Championships in Speed Skating in Single Distances for Men and Ladies were inaugurated in Hamar (NOR)
1997
World Single Distances Championships in Speed Skating
The World Cup series in Short Track Speed Skating for Men and Ladies were launched
Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series
The Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series and Final were created
European Championships in Short Track Speed Skating
European Championships in Short Track Speed Skating were inaugurated in Malmö (SWE)
1999
Four Continents Championships in Figure Skating
The Four Continents Championships in Figure Skating for skaters from North America, Asia and Oceania were inaugurated in Halifax (CAN)
2000
First World Synchronized Skating Championships
The first World Synchronized Skating Championships were held in Minneapolis (USA)
2002
Short Track Speed Skating 1500m races in the Olympic Winter Games
Short Track Speed Skating 1500m races in the Olympic Winter Games
First ISU Congress in Asia
The first ISU Congress to be held in Asia took place in Kyoto (JPN)
2003
New Judging System in Figure Skating
New Judging System tested at Grand Prix of Figure Skating Events for the first time
2004
Team Pursuit Speed Skating
Team Pursuit races in Speed Skating are included in the senior ISU World Cup Speed Skating program
50th ISU Congress
50th ISU Congress held at the Kurhaus Hotel in Scheveningen, The Netherlands, where the ISU was founded in 1892
2006
Team Pursuit Speed Skating in the Olympic Winter Games
Team Pursuit Speed Skating was included in the official program of the Olympic Winter Games, held in Torino (ITA)
2008
First ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating Event
The first ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating Event was held in Inzell, Germany
2009
First ISU World Team Trophy
The first edition of the ISU World Team Trophy 2009 in Tokyo, Japan
2011
ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships
Last edition of the ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships held in Warsaw (POL)
Mass Start Speed Skating
Mass Start races in Speed Skating are included in the senior ISU World Cup Speed Skating program
2014
Figure Skating Team event in the Olympic Winter Games
The Team event in Figure Skating was included in the official program of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games
2015
Team Sprint Speed Skating
Team Sprint races in Speed Skating are included in the senior ISU World Cup Speed Skating program
2017
ISU 125th Anniversary
The International Skating Union celebrates its 125th anniversary
2018
Mass Start Speed Skating in the Olympic Winter Games
Mass Start made its Olympic debut on the final day of the Speed Skating competitions at the Olympic Winter Games, held in Pyeongchang (KOR)
2022
Short Track Speed Skating Mixed Relay in the Olympic Winter Games
Mixed Relay made its Olympic debut on the first day of the Short Track Speed Skating competitions at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.
2022
First non Europe President is elected
Mr. Jae Youl Kim (KOR), elected during the 58th ISU Ordinary Congress, becomes the 12th ISU President and the first from outside Europe.