Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games – Adapted Sports Testing Programme

Lausanne, Switzerland

#FigureSkating       #SpeedSkating       #ShortTrackSkating

The current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic affecting many parts of the world means that travel restrictions are currently in place and the travel situation is likely to remain complex for the coming months in which the Beijing 2022 Test Events were scheduled. The Beijing 2022 Organising Committee (Beijing 2022), the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the International Winter Sports Federations (IFs), concluded that it was necessary to take an immediate joint decision on a tailored programme based on the needs of each individual IF.  Beijing 2022, the IOC, IPC and the IFs jointly decided to develop an adapted sports testing programme in preparation for the Olympic Winter Games 2022. The adapted programme will replace the organization of a series of international Test Events originally planned for the month of December 2020 and the first quarter of 2021. Consequently, the ISU confirms that the initially scheduled Test Events in Beijing for the ISU disciplines will not be held during the ongoing season 2020/21. This concerns the following ISU Events:

  • ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final, initially scheduled for December 10-13, 2020

  • ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating, initially scheduled for December 18-20, 2020

  • ISU World Speed Skating Championships, initially scheduled for February 25-28, 2021

While under the current pandemic situation finding alternative locations (outside China) and dates to replace the respective Events during the ongoing season will be a challenge, the ISU nevertheless is evaluating such alternatives for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final and the ISU World Speed Skating Championships. A decision will be taken as soon as possible.

However, due to calendar planning restrictions, the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating, initially planned to be held in Beijing, is definitely cancelled.

An update on the status of the ISU calendar season 2020/21 will follow in the coming days.

Referring to the agreed adapted sports testing programme in preparation for the Olympic Winter Games 2022 for the ISU disciplines, the ISU will now enter into discussions with Beijing 2022 to determine, in liaison with the  IOC, the details of the adapted testing programme tailored for the ISU needs.

The ISU joins Beijing 2022, the IOC and IPC in their continued efforts to deliver successful and memorable Olympic Winter Games in February 2022.