ISU Congress votes in favor of significant modernization for ice-skating sports

Las Vegas, USA

 ISU Congress 2024 Web Banner 1920x482px

 ISU Congress 2024 Day 2 Voting (2)

Voting process at the ISU Congress in Las Vegas, United States, USA, 2024. © ISU

On the second day of the ISU Congress, the assembly of delegates voted in favor of several major proposals advancing the modernization of ice-skating sports. Among these are a resolution to reform the ISU Constitution, the launch of the Short Track World Tour (evolution of the World Cup Series) and allowing manufacturers to appear on costumes and skates, opening up opportunities for fashion brands and skate manufacturers to partner with Figure Skaters.

ISU Constitution reform

In a bid to enhance greater rules clarity, consistency and governance flexibility, the ISU Congress approved a resolution to reform the ISU Constitution and General Regulations – the results will be presented at an Extraordinary Congress to be held in 2025. “A Drafting Committee and Member Consultation Group will be appointed to run and oversee the revision process, ensuring that all ISU Members’ perspectives are reflected. The approval of this modernization project is a significant step forward for the ISU, and we look forward to a collaborative and open approach to that end.” stated the ISU President, Jae Youl Kim.

ISU Congress 2024 Day 2 ISU President ISU Director General Council (2)

ISU President, Jae Youl Kim and ISU Director General, Colin Smith (center) surrounded by Vice President Speed Skating Tron Espeli (right), Vice President Figure Skating Benoit Lavoie (left), and Legal Advisor Michael Geistlinger (left to the President) at the ISU Congress in Las Vegas, United States, USA, 2024. © ISU

Overview of the approved Proposals

A total of 75 proposals and Urgent Matters were presented and debated during the plenary session. 38 proposals were accepted, 18 rejected, one postponed and the others were withdrawn.

Below is a summary of the proposals that the delegates voted in favor of:

  • Proposal 1: resolution to modernize the ISU Constitution

  • Urgent Proposal 1: change of the ISU financial year to run from July to June to be in line with the Ice Skating season.

  • Proposal 4 & 17: allowing the ISU to propose alternative investment strategies and corresponding criteria and guidelines aiming for better return on investments.

  • Proposal 7 & 8: enabling ISU Members unable to attend an ISU Congress in person to provide them with the possibility to attend the Congress virtually and vote on agenda proposals electronically.

  • Proposal 9: to clarify the term limits of elected Office Holders and to more accurately reflect the decisions of the Congress voted on back in 2012.

  • Proposal 15 & 28: confirming that the Athlete Commission Chair is a member of the ISU Council, and if the Chair cannot attend the ISU Council meeting, another Athlete Commission member can substitute the Chair in order to represent the interests of the Athletes.

  • Proposal 19 & 20: reduce the risk of vacancies in appointed positions within Technical Committees by allowing one of the appointed positions to exceptionally be filled by a person with specific qualifications that are obviously relevant to the tasks of the Committee.

  • Proposal 25 & 27 & 36: have consistent dates for anything relating to the ice skating season.

  • Urgent Proposal 6: ensure that the most experienced candidates can be selected on the OAC list. Clarification of the definition of national bias as a consequence of a recent decision of the Disciplinary Commission.

  • Proposal 26: the appointed coach to be the only Technical Committee positions, elected or appointed without a term limitation.

  • Proposal 33: enable the Council to schedule an urgent meeting on 48-hours' notice to address and take decisions on urgent matters.

  • Proposal 34 & 46 & 54 & 57 & 58 & 62 & 64: clarifications and drafting matters.

  • Urgent Proposal 11: opening up possible partnerships with brands (fashion industry for example) in Figure Skating for the creation of costumes/skates and providing visibility to manufacturers.  

  • Proposal 35: following the acceptance of the budget for seasons 2024-2026, this proposal is for the implementation of the Short Track World Tour.

  • Proposal 38: apply the same trademark rules on Speed Skating helmets than the one used on racing suit caps.

  • Proposal 39: if the ISU secures a sponsor agreement, the ISU will cancel the release of the front part of the helmet with a minimum of 30 days’ notice.

  • Proposal 40: Clarify what information ISU Members shall publish on their website on the most critical results from their Skaters.

  • Proposal 42: harmonization of terminology.

  • Proposals 43: Limit age classification to 11-12 years old for the Junior D category in Speed Skating and Short Track Speed Skating international competitions for health protection purposes

  • Proposal 45: have a maximum age gap of 7 years between the two partners in Pairs Skating and Ice Dance.

  • Proposal 53: establishing the Junior World Cup in Short Track.

  • Proposal 56: clarify the time limits for filing protests in Speed Skating and Short Track.

  • Proposal 59: defining the number of medals awarded for Team events in Speed Skating and Short Track.

  • Proposal 60 & 61: streamlining medal ceremonies in Synchronized Skating and removing the Referees and Assistant Referees or Technical Controller as part of the ceremony.

  • Proposal 63: Providing more flexibility to award ceremonies in Speed Skating and Short Track Organizing Committees.

As part of the second day of the ISU Congress, key reports were presented by the ISU Development Commission (view presentation here) the ISU Disciplinary Commission and the ISU Legal Advisor highlighting the main activities undertaken over the past two years in these areas.

  

Congress Program

The full Congress agenda and detailed proposals are available in the ISU Communication 2629 and ISU Communication 2637.

  • June 10: Opening of the Congress and Presentations of strategic reports
  • June 11-13: Full Congress / Figure Skating and Speed Skating Branch sessions
  • June 13: Online Press Conference
  • June 14: Ratification of decisions and closing session

 

WHERE TO WATCH

The 59th Ordinary ISU Congress is available as a live stream on the Skating ISU YouTube Channel.

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