Funding of international skaters: federation/gov't/private/other support & prize $$$

[Sylvia]

These questions came up in the U.S. team envelope thread and I think this is a topic that might be of interest, particularly regarding how elite international skaters from different countries receive funding / may or do not receive any or enough outside funding to support their competitive careers.

Does the USFSA pay for their coaching, equipment, doctors etc on top of the [envelope] fund money? I am curious to compare the funding for the US team compares to other federations. If the $$$ received should cover the ice time, equipment, coaching choreographer, costumes and all other expense affiliated with top level skating, the amount would not cover it. Am I wrong on this?

No, you are not wrong. USFS' team envelope money only covers a fraction of the skaters' annual expenses, as kwanfan1818 explained in this reply in the other thread. There is also USOC (U.S. Olympic Committee) funding available to Team A and B skaters/teams, but I don't know any specific details or amounts.

Do Junior Grand Prix medalists get any prize money?

Is there prize money for the Senior B competition medalists?

And do the biggest name skaters get money for competing at Grand Prix events?

1. Yes (see post #3 below for a compilation of ISU prize money amounts).

2. No (ETA: unless the event organizer can provide prize money).

3. I don't think so.

I will post links to information online re. Canadian elite skater funding and would be interested to know what is publicly known or available online about elite skater funding in Japan, Russia, other European countries, etc.

[Sylvia]

Skate Canada High Performance Development Grants ("Awarded to skaters placing 1-5 in Novice, Junior, and Senior events at the Canadian Championships and the Skate Canada Junior Nationals."): http://www.skatecanada.ca/AboutUs/Fu...S/Default.aspx

Figure Skaters Receiving Athlete Assistance Program (AAP) Support as of April 1, 2012 (Sport Canada Carded athletes): http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/sc/pgm/apaa1-eng.cfm#t156

Own the Podium (Figure Skating received $750,000 out of $21,347,050 Total Funding for Winter Sports in 2011-12): http://ownthepodium.org/Funding/detailsw.aspx?id=6
"Targeted Athletes": Patrick Chan, Virtue/Moir, Weaver/Poje, Duhamel/Radford

[Sylvia]

From the 2012/13 ISU Junior Grand Prix Announcement:

4.1 Prize money for each Individual event
The Global Prize money per individual event of the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating is US$ 22,500 awarded to each medal winner for each category as follows:
Singles (Ladies and Men) / Pairs and Ice Dance (per couple)
1st place US$ 2,000 / US$ 3,000
2nd place US$ 1,500 / US$ 2,250
3rd place US$ 1,000 / US$ 1,500
The individual prize money will be transferred directly at the end of each event to the Member concerned.
...

10.1 Bonus for participation in the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final
A skater/couple will receive an extra bonus of
US$ 2,500
for participation in the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final...

10.2 Prize Money
The Global Prize Money made available by the ISU for the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final is US$ 105,000
The prize money in favor of the awarded skaters will be paid at the end of the Final through the Organizing ISU Members and through the ISU Members of the awarded skaters. The withholding taxes, if any, will be deducted according to the respective law of the host country taking into account double tax treaties with the countries of the awarded skaters. The ISU is not responsible for any taxes, fees or other cost.

Men and Ladies / Pairs & Ice Dance (per couple)
1st place US$ 6,000 / US$ 9,000
2nd place US$ 5,000 / US$ 7,500
3rd place US$ 4,000 / US$ 6,000
4th place US$ 3,000 / US$ 4,500
5th place US$ 2,000 / US$ 3,000
6th place US$ 1,000 / US$ 1,500

2012/13 ISU Senior Grand Prix Announcement not yet published online - here are the amounts from the 2011/12 GP Announcement:

5.1 Prize Money for Each Individual event
The Global Prize Money per individual event of the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating will be:
US$ 180,000
Awarded to winners and placed skaters/couples as follows:
Men and Ladies / Pairs and Ice Dance (per couple)
1st place: US$ 18,000 / US$ 18,000
2nd place: US$ 13,000 / US$ 13,000
3rd place: US$ 9,000 / US$ 9,000
4th place: US$ 3,000 / US$ 3,000
5th place: US$ 2,000 / US$ 2,000

If the third event is completed all prize money as earned will be awarded as well as a US $10,000 bonus (paid by the ISU directly).

5.2 Exhibition Fee
An exhibition fee to be provided by the Organizing Member will only be paid to skates/couples who are not awarded prize money. The exhibition fee is set at US$ 200.00 for single skaters (Men and Ladies) and US$ 300.00 for Pairs and Dance couples.
...
9.1 Prize Money
The ISU will make available the Global Prize Money for the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final of: U.S. $272,000
to the skaters/couples through their ISU Members. All prize money in favour of the awarded skaters/couples will be paid immediately after the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final via bank transfer from the Organizing ISU Member to the Member of the awarded skater. Withholding tax, if any, will be deducted according to the law of the Organizing Member taking into account double tax treaties with the countries of the awarded skaters. The ISU is not responsible for any taxes, fees or other costs.

Men and Ladies / Pairs and Ice Dance (per couple)
1st place: US$ 25,000 / US$ 25,000
2nd place: US$ 18,000 / US$ 18,000
3rd place: US$ 12,000 / US$ 12,000
4th place: US$ 6,000 / US$ 6,000
5th place: US$ 4,000 / US$ 4,000
6th place: US$ 3,000 / US$ 3,000

ISU World Championships

Prize Money
The ISU awards a global prize money of US$ 710,000 at the World Championships to skaters/couples placed 1st to 12th. The prize money is awarded to winners and placed skaters/couples as follows:

Men and Ladies / Pairs and Dance (per couple)
1st place US$ 45,000 / US$ 67,500
2nd place US$ 27,000 / US$ 40,500
3rd place US$ 18,000 / US$ 27,000
4th place US$ 13,000 / US$ 19,500
5th place US$ 10,000 / US$ 15,000
6th place US$ 7,000 / US$ 10,500
7th place US$ 6,000 / US$ 9,000
8th place US$ 5,000 / US$ 7,500
9th place US$ 3,500 / US$ 5,250
10th place US$ 3,000 / US$ 4,500
11th place US$ 2,500 / US$ 3,750
12th place US$ 2,000 / US$ 3,000

ISU European Championships

Prize money
The ISU awards a global prize money of US$ 350,000 at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships to skaters/couples placed 1st to 12th. The prize money is awarded as follows:
Men and Ladies / Pairs and Dance (per couple)
1st place US$ 20,000 / US$ 30,000
2nd place US$ 13,000 / US$ 19,500
3rd place US$ 8,000 / US$ 12,000
4th place US$ 6,500 / US$ 9,750
5th place US$ 5,000 / US$ 7,500
6th place US$ 4,000 / US$ 6,000
7th place US$ 3,500 / US$ 5,250
8th place US$ 3,000 / US$ 4,500
9th place US$ 2,500 / US$ 3,750
10th place US$ 2,000 / US$ 3,000
11th place US$ 1,500 / US$ 2,250
12th place US$ 1,000 / US$ 1,500

ISU Four Continents Championships

Prize money
The ISU awards a global prize money of US$ 250,000 at the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships to skaters/couples placed 1st to 12th. The prize money is awarded as follows:

Men and Ladies Pairs and Dance (per couple)
1st place US$ 15,000 / US$ 22,500
2nd place US$ 9,000 / US$ 13,500
3rd place US$ 6,000 / US$ 9,000
4th place US$ 4,500 / US$ 6,750
5th place US$ 3,250 / US$ 5,000
6th place US$ 2,500 / US$ 3,750
7th place US$ 2,250 / US$ 3,500
8th place US$ 2,000 / US$ 3,000
9th place US$ 1,750 / US$ 2,500
10th place US$ 1,500 / US$ 2,250
11th place US$ 1,250 / US$ 1,750
12th place US$ 1,000 / US$ 1,500

ISU World Junior Championships

Prize money
The ISU awards a global prize money of US$ 200,000 at the World Junior Championships to skaters/couples placed 1st to 12th. The prize money is awarded to winners and placed skaters/couples as follows:

Men and Ladies / Pairs and Dance (per couple)
1st place US$ 10,000 / US$ 15,000
2nd place US$ 7,000 / US$ 10,500
3rd place US$ 5,000 / US$ 7,500
4th place US$ 3,500 / US$ 4,500
5th place US$ 2,750 / US$ 4,000
6th place US$ 2,500 / US$ 3,750
7th place US$ 2,250 / US$ 3,500
8th place US$ 2,000 / US$ 3,000
9th place US$ 1,750 / US$ 2,750
10th place US$ 1,500 / US$ 2,250
11th place US$ 1,250 / US$ 1,750
12th place US$ 1,000 / US$ 1,500

NOTE: Refer to ISU Communication No. 1509 - PRIZE MONEY ISU CHAMPIONSHIPS (July 2008) - as the current official document re. ISU Championships prize money.
"The ISU Member of skaters who have been awarded prize money may retain a maximum of 10 %."

ETA 2012 ISU World Team Trophy

Prize Money
The organizing ISU member (Japan Figure Skating Federation) will make available the Global Prize Money of US$ 1,000,000 to the skaters/couples of the awarded teams based on the following scale:
1st placed team: US$ 200,000
2nd placed team: US$ 170,000
3rd placed team: US$ 160,000
4th placed team: US$ 150,000
5th placed team: US$ 140,000
6th placed team: US$ 130,000
Two single skaters and one pair and one ice dance couple from none qualfied teams that are invited to the exhibition gala will receive the following appearance fees:
2 single skaters: US$ 10,000 per skater
1 pair/1 ice dance couple: US$ 15,000 per couple

[vexlak]

Sylvia you are the best.
I just would like to add that there is a bonus paid:

Bonus for participation in the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final
A skater/couple will receive an extra bonus of US$ 2.500,00

I am sure that the seniors will have similar provision

[Sylvia]

Thanks, vexlak. I will double check and edit into my prize money post above.

ETA: I've edited in the bonus for the JGP Final, but I didn't see a similar bonus listed in the Announcement for the 2011-12 Grand Prix Final.

Re-posting from the U.S. team envelope thread:

And do the biggest name skaters get money for competing at Grand Prix events?

My understanding is there are/have been "appearance fees" given

[missing]

Am I reading the chart correctly? Is there a substantial difference between prize money for Europeans and Four Continents?

And if there is, what is the justification?

[barbk]

Euros is popular with audiences, always, 4CC not so much. I don't know if the ISU gets much of any payment for tv rights for 4CC, unless perhaps it is in Japan.

[Aussie Willy]

Australian skaters don't get much. There might be some money coming from the Olympic Winter Institute if they achieve some results internationally. Or they might get club support or private sponsorship. There a couple of scholarship funds too. But for most it is pretty much doing it on their own and costs the skaters or their parents a small fortune.

[kwanfan1818]

I thought the prize money differential was tied to the "developmental" nature of 4C's and the difference in rules, such as every country still entitled to three spots in every discipline (as long as the skater meets the championship TES minimum, new last year). 4C's was considered to have weaker fields, diluted for years with top singles not competing and not all three top Chinese teams, but whether that is the chicken or the egg, I'm not certain, since the fields can vary by geography and whether it is an Olympic year.

Comparing numbers -- I maybe be off by a couple, since I did it quickly -- the 2012 competitors are, Euro vs. 4C's; in parentheses are the numbers if spots were based on 2011 4C's*:

Men: 32 vs. 28 (19)
Ladies: 41 vs. 30 (20)
Pairs: 19 vs. 10 (not counting the spot dropped for second earned for JPN by T/T)
Dance: 32 vs. 11 (12, if CHN had sent two instead of one)

There were preliminary rounds at Euros for Men, Ladies, and Dance, and none at 4C's.

*I didn't go back to the beginning to see how many skaters would have been sent to 2011 4C's, where there would also have been fewer skaters from spots earned in 2010 based on 2009, etc.

[vexlak]

How about Olympic participants and hopefuls?
National Olympic Committee (NOC) receives financial support for the training and development of Olympic teams, Olympic athletes and Olympic hopefuls. How does each NOC distributes their $$?

[Polymer Bob]

It seems like very few skaters have major sponsors. I haven't heard of a skater signing a major endorsement deal in quite a while.