Lausanne / Switzerland

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board (EB) met on July 18, 2018, after the Olympic Programme Commission met on June 27 and confirmed that the ISU request to include Short Track Speed Skating Mixed Gender Relay event has been approved. The new relay event will feature teams composed of two Ladies and two Men with a pre-set sequence of exchanged (for example Lady, Lady, Man, Man).

ISU President Mr. Jan Dijkema commented: “The ISU is delighted that the IOC decided to add this spectacular and exciting event to the 2022 Olympic Program. It brings a different dynamic to Short Track Speed Skating with the mixed gender element. We gained experience with mixed gender events on several occasions, such as attest competition at the 2018 ISU World Short Track Speed Skating Championships. The new and easy to understand mixed gender relay will be featured in the ISU World Cup Short Track Speed Skating series as of the season 2018/19.”

 

GettyImages 879352902

Mixed Team 2000m Relay final duirng the 2017 Shanghai Trophy ©ISU

The ISU's application for inclusion of Synchronized Skating was however not successful and the ISU acknowledges the challenges the application was facing, namely the universality of the discipline, the media and broadcast impact and, last but not least, the addition of a substantial number of athletes. The ISU will nevertheless continue its efforts to further develop Synchronized Skating and increase its popularity in cooperation with the ISU Members.

The IOC also aims to reduce the Athletes’ quota and to move towards gender balance, the ISU will evaluate the IOC input and will work with the IOC towards a reasonable solution.

For further information please refer to the official IOC announcement.