59th Ordinary ISU Congress: Charting the roadmap to ISU Vision 2030

Lausanne, Switzerland

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Spanning over five days of meetings, presentations and debates, more than 350 participants will unite in Las Vegas, including ISU Members, Office Holders and staff. As the ISU’s governing body with the highest authority, the Congress – held every two years – acts as a pivotal platform to delve into a wide range of structural, regulatory and strategic topics to foster the organization’s continued growth.  

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View of the 58th ISU Ordinary Congress that took place in Phuket, Thailand, 2022. © ISU

The 2024 Congress (view 2024 Agenda) promises to set a milestone for a transformative phase ahead with the ISU Vision 2030 taking center stage. Adopted by the Council in 2023, this strategic roadmap will bring to the delegates’ table a series of concrete action plans to be discussed for implementation purposes. In an era of rapid technological advancements and shifting consumer behaviors, this program aims at modernizing the ISU at multiple levels – event formats, branding & promotion, broadcasting, fan engagement, innovation and sustainability – while sustaining a strong commitment to the ISU’s legacy and core values of fairness, openness, clean sport and safeguarding.  

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View of the 58th ISU Ordinary Congress that took place in Phuket, Thailand, 2022. © ISU

Spearheaded by the ISU President, Jae Youl Kim, ISU Director General, Colin Smith, together with the ISU Council, the forthcoming strategic debates will include among others the following topics:

Inception of new events formats:

  • Creation of vibrant/creative event presentations and experiences (on and off screens) to drive higher outreach, interest, attendance and engagement.
  • Announcement of the ISU Short Track World Tour (bringing together the 6 World Cup Series events) with a new highly dynamic and entertainment-oriented show production, creating compelling new propositions for partners and sponsors to generate revenue for ISU, Members and skaters and invest into growing the sport.

Upgrading of TV broadcasting presentation:

  • Leveraging of high-quality broadcasting platforms, technologies and programs while modernizing the TV graphics to spur accessibility and amplified reach.

Innovative branding/communication approaches

  • Crafting compelling narratives, brand identities and communication channels to resonate with diverse audiences, elevate visibility and expand the skating community.

Enhancement/diversification of digital promotion and engagement channels:

  • Harnessing cutting-edge digital tools to connect closer with audiences worldwide and cultivate online communities.
  • Development of a new digital ecosystem prioritizing the fan experience, while concurrently enhancing efficiencies and creating visually captivating platforms and content.

Sustainable growth

  • Increasing/maximizing sources of revenues (TV, media, sponsors) and offer attractive exposure opportunities.

Safeguarding

  • Mental and physical well-being of skaters supported by initiatives creating a safe and clean competitive environment (read here).

Internal restructuring

  • Managerial and functional restructuring changes to streamline organization/operations, strengthen resources and empower teams to achieve the ISU Vision 2030 goals for progressive growth and global impact, while improving services to the Members.

 

The ISU President, Jae Youl Kim, expresses great enthusiasm for these forward-thinking priorities designed to better position ice-skating sports in the current era and for the generations to come:

“This 59th Congress represents a landmark event for the ISU and the wider sports community. We are excited to collectively shape the future of ice-skating disciplines by incorporating greater entertainment, innovation, inclusivity and sustainability.  It is our mission to embrace new initiatives while safeguarding our proud traditions to remain relevant for the current audiences and appeal to young generations of skaters and fans.”

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 Jae Youl Kim (KOR) poses after having been elected as the new ISU President during the 58th ISU Ordinary Congress 2022 in Phuket, Thailand. © ISU

Congress Program

The full Congress agenda and detailed proposals are available in the ISU Communication 2629. Hereafter is a summary of the program:

  • June 8-9: Council Meetings & Technical Committee Meetings

  • June 10: Opening of the Congress / Branches Workshops

  • June 11-13: Full Congress / Figure Skating and Speed Skating Branch Sessions

  • June 14: Full Congress and Closing Session

 

WHERE TO WATCH

The 59th Ordinary ISU Congress will be available as a live stream on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel. Further details will be provided in due course.

To know more about the ISU Congresses, visit the dedicated webpage here.

Refer to the Press Release for an overview of selected key proposals that will be discussed during the 2024 Congress.