ISU CONGRESS REVIEW
4
From left to right S. Anesi, R. Maillard, S. Stoytchev, J.Y. Kim, M. Geistlinger, Y. Yang, U. Linder, T. Espeli, B. Pfister, J. Dijkema, F. Schmid, A. Lakernik, J. Hiramatsu, P. St. Peter, M. Lundmark, B. Lavoie, M.T. Samaranch.
The 56th ISU Ordinary Congress took place in Dubrovnik (CRO) on June 6 -10, where over 350 Delegates from 85 Members were present to vote on over 370 Proposals and to elect candidates to ISU Office. Congress voted in favor of an Athletes’ Commission and a new Development Commission. Following the decision of the European Commission to open an investigation against the ISU eligibility rules, the ISU Council made a number of proposals in order to adjust the rules and provide consistency to Rule 109, all of which were accepted. The new rule helps clarify the issue of athlete clearances and harmonizes the waiting period for release to 12 months. Congress agreed to restructure the ISU European Speed Skating Championships; see page 3 for more information. Team Sprint is now a fully integrated ISU Speed Skating discipline. Other Proposals to introduce a World hour record and to restructure the ISU World Speed Skating Championships were rejected. www.isu.org
In Short Track Speed Skating the testing of new racing formats will be permitted and although a proposal to introduce ISU Nations Trophy Short Track event was defeated, a resolution to look into the format was agreed. A number of Technical Rules were approved in order to clarify the classification rules and final Rankings. Following the decision of Congress the anonymity of Judges in the Figure Skating Branch (including Single and Pair Skating, Ice Dance and Synchronized Skating) was abolished. The age limit of ISU Figure Skating Officials was unified to the maximum age of 70 and a number of proposals to shorten the Figure Skating competitions have been voted in, including the reduction of the number of jumps in Single and Pair Skating. Season 2018/19 will see the introduction of 11 Grades of Execution which will increase the range to evaluate the quality of programs. Finally a new draw procedure will take place. The Synchronized Skating Technical Committee presented to the Congress a number of proposals to harmonize its Rules with Single &
Pair Skating and Ice Dance Rules which were subsequently accepted.
Elections
The 56th Ordinary Congress concluded on June 10 with the elections of the ISU Office Holders. Mr. Jan Dijkema (NED) was elected President of the ISU and takes over from Mr. Ottavio Cinquanta who was President for 22 years. Mr. Tron Espeli (NOR) was elected First Vice President Speed Skating and Mr. Alexander Lakernik (RUS) as Second Vice President Figure Skating. The Speed Skating Council members include, the first woman to be elected to the Speed Skating Branch Ms. Yang Yang (CHN), Mr. Jae Youl Kim (KOR), Mr. Stoytcho Stoytchev (BUL), Mr. Roland Maillard (SUI) and Mr. Sergio Anesi (ITA). The Figure Skating Council is composed of Ms. Junko Hiramatsu (JPN), Ms. Patricia St. Peter (USA), Ms. Marie Lundmark (FIN), Mr. Benoit Lavoie (CAN), and Ms. Maria Teresa Samaranch (ESP). The full list of ISU Office Holders is available in ISU Communication No. 2018. The 57th Ordinary Congress will be held in Seville (ESP) in June 2018.