ISU Skating Awards To Debut At 2020 Worlds

[Rob]

The baseball press votes for Cy Young, MVP, Rookie of the Year etc. It would make more sense to do it that way instead of fan vote if they must give more trophies. Or something like Longines Prize for Elegance, which is voted by some sort of corporate jury.

Ah, it will give us something else to argue about in the offseason.

 

[Tinami Amori]

This is what Zakarian said in a conversation with the journalist in Spring 2019 (link to the whole recap is posted above).

"I think, we do-or-die need a different approach to the business of figure skating. I work with many stars in different sports, and know that for example, at US National Basketball Championship the front row seats cost tenths of thousands of dollars. People are willing to pay these amounts of money not because of better view. The view is just as good from fourth and fifth rows. But in the first row they place celebrities. And rich people are willing to pay for being able to go home after the game and to brag that "i sat next to Kim Kardashian".

"Считаю, что нам до зарезу нужен совершенно иной подход к фигурному катанию как к бизнесу, - говорил Закарян. - Я много работаю со звездами самых разных видов спорта и знаю, например, что на национальном чемпионате США по баскетболу первые ряды в зале стоят до десяти тысяч долларов. Люди платят эти деньги не потому, что оттуда лучше видна площадка – она так же хорошо видна и с четвертого, и с пятого ряда, но в первом ряду сидят селебрити. И богатые люди платят за то, чтобы можно было прийти после игры домой и сказать: "А я сегодня сидел рядом с Ким Кардашьян!"

Besides the "financial" intent, the mention of "Kardashian" and all the popularity stunts associated with that family, in a competitive sport is a mess in itself. There are already plenty of skaters who say and do provocative attention gathering things, just imagine what some may do to win a popularity contest. this maybe such a mess....

 

[aftershocks]

... but could add to negativity and actually to the already existing perception that FS is not a sport.

I get your drift, but I think that's fairly debatable because the way the sport of figure skating developed, there will be and has always been an endless clusterfcuk kerfuffle regarding whether or not it's a legitimate sport. This awards show fluff/distraction I don't see necessarily directly adding to the arguments against figure skating being a sport. After all, there are plenty of other sports-related diversionary entertainment awards shows in existence, including the ESPN awards.

If as you say neither Rusfed nor U.S. fed, nor any other fed have any involvement with the extravaganza and it's only the ISU backing it, then it's just par for the course with the ISU misfiring by creating diversions rather than actually solving the sport's real problems.

[ETA: I see some other posters have already mentioned the other sports that annually organize awards-related entertainment spectacles to celebrate their sports and their athletes. Obviously, the handlers who oversee popularly and traditionally well-established big-ball sports do a better organizational job than do fs honchos].

 

[Satellizer]

I feel bad for Romain H. not being included for Best Coach if
D&L are nominated together. And in that case, you can't have Brian Orser without Tracy Wilson.

 

[aftershocks]

I feel bad for Romain H. not being included for Best Coach if
D&L are nominated together. And in that case, you can't have Brian Orser without Tracy Wilson.

Yep but OTOH, as fs fans, athletes, and coaches know and are constantly reminded, there's NO FAIRNESS in figure skating.

 

[Satellizer]

Yep but OTOH, as fs fans, athletes, and coaches know and are constantly reminded, there's NO FAIRNESS in figure skating.

Very true. I'm sure most of the nominees know these awards don't have actual merit.

 

[overedge]

Very true. I'm sure most of the nominees know these awards don't have actual merit.

But the winners are still going to have to show up at the Worlds gala and act like they're at the Oscars Maybe this is one set of awards where it would be preferable to lose.

 

[Frau Muller]

Isn’t Ari Zakarian half of the funny brothers act, Ari & Akop? How did he become such a powerful figure in the ISU?

 

[aftershocks]

Maybe this is one set of awards where it would be preferable to lose.

Yes, I'm sure being able to say, "I'm an Olympic medalist," or a World medalist or GPF medalist will be preferable to saying, "I won the Best Costume trophy in the Inaugural World figure skating Awards Extravaganza."

We won't even truly know what skaters think about it all, because none competing will come out and say what they truly think of ISU-related governing matters while they're still competing. And many skaters may feel it will be some diversionary fun post-Worlds.

 

[Spikefan]

We won't even truly know what skaters think about it all, because none competing will come out and say what they truly think of ISU-related governing matters while they're still competing.

If only they had this during the Tonya/Nancy era.

 

[Rob]

Well who is going to pay for an award winner’s trip to Worlds if they aren’t already going? The Federation? Some Federations likely won’t have money to spend on that.

 

[GarrAargHrumph]

The ISU/Shulepov costume issue is now in Time Magazine:
In an apparent “error,” a Russian figure skater's Auschwitz-themed outfit made the shortlist for the International Skating Union's “best costume” award

Love their use of the word 'apparent' and the use of quotes here.

 

[PRlady]

This is what Zakarian said in a conversation with the journalist in Spring 2019 (link to the whole recap is posted above).

"I think, we do-or-die need a different approach to the business of figure skating. I work with many stars in different sports, and know that for example, at US National Basketball Championship the front row seats cost tenths of thousands of dollars. People are willing to pay these amounts of money not because of better view. The view is just as good from fourth and fifth rows. But in the first row they place celebrities. And rich people are willing to pay for being able to go home after the game and to brag that "i sat next to Kim Kardashian".

"Считаю, что нам до зарезу нужен совершенно иной подход к фигурному катанию как к бизнесу, - говорил Закарян. - Я много работаю со звездами самых разных видов спорта и знаю, например, что на национальном чемпионате США по баскетболу первые ряды в зале стоят до десяти тысяч долларов. Люди платят эти деньги не потому, что оттуда лучше видна площадка – она так же хорошо видна и с четвертого, и с пятого ряда, но в первом ряду сидят селебрити. И богатые люди платят за то, чтобы можно было прийти после игры домой и сказать: "А я сегодня сидел рядом с Ким Кардашьян!"

Besides the "financial" intent, the mention of "Kardashian" and all the popularity stunts associated with that family, in a competitive sport is a mess in itself. There are already plenty of skaters who say and do provocative attention gathering things, just imagine what some may do to win a popularity contest. this maybe such a mess....

I agree completely. This sport is different in every way from basketball (and I say that as someone whose husband’s organization benefited from Adam Silver’s largesse.) we don’t god knows need Kardashians in the front row, we need more ordinary people to appreciate and love the sport the way we do.

My husband asked if I wanted to go to a free concert of The Messiah at National Cathedral Saturday afternoon. During the Grand Prix Final? I asked incredulously. And I’ve never skated or had a kid who did. We need more me’s!

 

[GarrAargHrumph]

And... now it's on TMZ:

FIGURE SKATER ANTON SHULEPOV RIPPED FOR HOLOCAUST COSTUME ... 'Insensitive, Offensive'

 

[GarrAargHrumph]

Did we already see the one from USA Today?

International Skating apologizes for 'error' nominating Holocaust-themed costume for award

 

[mjb52]

They should have come up with a manageable short list of 5 nominees in each category and released it later, in late January or February. But also someone should probably have said something about this to Shulepov/his coaches/the Russian Federation earlier, although it's possible they did and their concerns just weren't taken seriously. It is interesting to have this sport where different cultural norms come into contact in a way that wouldn't be an issue in like the long jump or a boxing match (maybe people who know more about those sports would say oh yes they do!). It causes issues on this board and it causes issues in the "real world" too.

 

[aftershocks]

And... now it's on TMZ:

FIGURE SKATER ANTON SHULEPOV RIPPED FOR HOLOCAUST COSTUME ... 'Insensitive, Offensive'

Ah no. Poor, sweet Anton who surely meant no offense with the costume or the music selection. I hope he's able to buck-up and not allow the negative attention to distract him from his skating goals. IOW, keep working hard and if possible turn negative attention into something positive long term.

 

[mollymgr]

Well who is going to pay for an award winner’s trip to Worlds if they aren’t already going? The Federation? Some Federations likely won’t have money to spend on that.

They will accept via FaceTime.

 

[VGThuy]

Or maybe even Snapchat or TikTok which is what the kids are using.

 

[Japanfan]

It is interesting to have this sport where different cultural norms come into contact in a way that wouldn't be an issue in like the long jump or a boxing match (maybe people who know more about those sports would say oh yes they do!). It causes issues on this board and it causes issues in the "real world" too.

Culturally offensive costumes (or other art) should not be a cultural norm anywhere. But they certainly have been and too much extent, continue to be.

 

[caseyedwards]

It’s just so weird! Why can you do holocaust movies but not holocaust figure Skating programs?

 

[Japanfan]

It’s just so weird! Why can you do holocaust movies but not holocaust figure Skating programs?

There have been many Schindler's List programs.

If you don't get the issue here, I'm not going to explain it to you.

 

[MsZem]

There have been many Schindler's List programs.

If you don't get the issue here, I'm not going to explain it to you.

Eh. I'm Jewish and while the costume is horrible, it's not the first offensive thing I've seen as part of a Schindler's List program.

I'd rather skaters stopped using the Holocaust to make a Meaningful Artistic Statement, period.

 

[Frau Muller]

If the ISU wants to award an all-time shameful costume, then look no further than the 2010 Olympics “aboriginal dance” by Russian ice dancers! Yagudin’s 1998 “banana monkey” exhibition outfit close behind.

 

[Japanfan]

Eh. I'm Jewish and while the costume is horrible, it's not the first offensive thing I've seen as part of a Schindler's List program.

I may have seen that program before, but don't remember it.

And, I'm Jewish also.

I'd rather skaters stopped using the Holocaust to make a Meaningful Artistic Statement, period.

I think the Schindler's List film and the haunting, evocative soundtrack that accompanied it resulted in skaters wanting to skate to it. And then it became 'known' in FS, and was used even more often. I'm not sure, but expect there would be far fewer Holocaust-themed programs prior to Schindler's List.

Were you bothered by the Zaretsky sibs' program?

 

[MsZem]

Were you bothered by the Zaretsky sibs' program?

I was not. It was respectful and restrained, and they didn't do concentration camp cosplay.

I'm also more comfortable with Jewish and Israeli skaters taking on this music. I mentioned that I'm Jewish because it seems like much of the conversation about Shulepov's costume has been by people being offended on my (our) behalf, and I don't feel like their criticism necessarily speaks for me.

 

[Frau Muller]

I may have seen that program before, but don't remember it.

And, I'm Jewish also.



I think the Schindler's List film and the haunting, evocative soundtrack that accompanied it resulted in skaters wanting to skate to it. And then it became 'known' in FS, and was used even more often. I'm not sure, but expect there would be far fewer Holocaust-themed programs prior to Schindler's List.

Were you bothered by the Zaretsky sibs' program?

Hey, that was not my quote...the link is to my comment about the “aboriginal dance” of 2010. Please correct. And I am not Jewish...am Russian Orthodox Christian. UPDATE: Thanks to Japanfan for having corrected the link to Zemgirl's post.

 

[Coco]

Baseball is pretty straight forward, except for some referee calls.

 

[mjb52]

Culturally offensive costumes (or other art) should not be a cultural norm anywhere. But they certainly have been and too much extent, continue to be.

But I think where the norm issue comes in is that most likely we can safely presume that Shulepov and whoever was involved didn't think/weren't aware it was culturally offensive. That doesn't mean it wasn't, but I don't think it was intended to be. Some posts are trying to make a distinction between a "good" SL program/costume and a "bad" one, but just because that distinction is clear to other people, it doesn't mean it is or was clear to the people involved in Shulepov's program.

I would also like to see less of these programs at all, even from Jewish/Israeli skaters (I am also Jewish) but it's not easy - we only want people to do them when they're good, but the people involved in the bad ones presumably think theirs are good. Perhaps this will seem like a bit of a tangent, but I often think about the Duchesney's Missing programs, which are up there with my favorite programs of all time - but if you drill down and think about it, conceptually it's a bit weird to portray such a serious subject in an ice dance program even when it's done very well.

 

[MsZem]

I feel like "no concentration camp costumes" is a pretty easy guideline to follow. What's next, a temporary number tattoo for verisimilitude?

(I'm unhappy with the relevant skaters and their teams, not with Michalle, of course)