2024 ISU Congress Agenda

[Frau Muller]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1801324995987313020

If anybody knows…Why was Ari Z asking for one minute of time, prompting the abrupt “No” from the Chairman?

 

[skatingguy]

If anybody knows…Why was Ari Z asking for one minute of time, prompting the abrupt “No” from the Chairman?

Zakarian was asking for a moment to criticize the organization of the ISU Congress.

 

[Karen-W]

FS Xwitter is ridiculous. They're beating up on Ari (and the USFS) because they were the most recognizable and vocal in their opposition to the new rule changes taking effect immediately, but the JSF and Italy both voted in favor of the delay and both spoke out against them (Japan on Monday night during the Workshop and Italy during the FS Branch session). So, clearly, two other countries with men who have multiple quads and are top skaters weren't thrilled with these changes happening mid-cycle.

 

[Frau Muller]

Zakarian was asking for a moment to criticize the organization of the ISU Congress.

Yikes, that’s not so smart for his clients and organization (Art on Ice and such).

 

[skatingguy]

Yikes, that’s not so smart for his clients and organization (Art on Ice and such).

Zakarian has more power than the people on the ISU executive - they may not want to him to openly criticize the organization during one of it's own events, but the ISU can't touch Zakarian.

 

[Frau Muller]

Zakarian has more power than the people on the ISU executive - they may not want to him to openly criticize the organization during one of it's own events, but the ISU can't touch Zakarian.

Interesting!

 

[Willin]

FS Xwitter is ridiculous. They're beating up on Ari (and the USFS) because they were the most recognizable and vocal in their opposition to the new rule changes taking effect immediately, but the JSF and Italy both voted in favor of the delay and both spoke out against them (Japan on Monday night during the Workshop and Italy during the FS Branch session). So, clearly, two other countries with men who have multiple quads and are top skaters weren't thrilled with these changes happening mid-cycle.

FS Twitter obviously doesn't care about figure skating then. Implementing these new rules now would mean lots of skaters (particularly Juniors, but certainly many Seniors as well) having to rework programs and spend more money they probably don't have in order to do so.

The US club competition season starts in April/May, and while our Juniors/Seniors aren't typically competing until July they still likely will have their programs done or near done by now if competing in July. Korea's already had a training camp that I'm sure skaters had to have some sort of program ready for, and Japan's skaters also seem to start programs in Spring. This doesn't benefit anyone's skaters to have rules change right now, and I don't get how FS Twitter doesn't see it - probably because they don't know/care about how the sausage gets made, only that it does get made.

Now, if the congress happened in April, it might be more reasonable to implement the changes this season.

 

[On My Own]

FS Xwitter is ridiculous. They're beating up on Ari (and the USFS) because they were the most recognizable and vocal in their opposition to the new rule changes taking effect immediately,

Again. They're not beating up on Ari and USFS because of this, but simply because they hate them. You need to understand them like Jane Goodall might primates.

And Ari is annoying. I do not see why we need to be happy he's powerful or whatever.

 

[VGThuy]

Imagine someone recreating what Surya used to do during her professional days where she did a one-foot backflip (I guess we can call it a layout step-out?) into triple Salchow…

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Did today’s episode of TSL just say the backflip is allowed next season?

Booooooooo

Added a very second later… Oh it looks like this is already been discussed. I still don’t like it.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

A backflip still isn’t going to grow the sport or generate any interest. Turns out what will is growing the artistry which it refuses to do. Even with gymnastics thats been on the past few weeks, how many uneven bars and balance beam routines can be carbon copies of the one before it? Anyways, the rant is over lol lol. Well, at least until cranberry cup.

 

[skatingguy]

A backflip still isn’t going to grow the sport or generate any interest. Turns out what will is growing the artistry which it refuses to do. Even with gymnastics thats been on the past few weeks, how many uneven bars and balance beam routines can be carbon copies of the one before it? Anyways, the rant is over lol lol. Well, at least until cranberry cup.

I disagree that they are refusing to do this. The changes to the planned program content of the pairs, and singles events that is slated to go into effect for the 26/27 season are steps in that direction. This is the difficulty of an artistic sport when you let everyone know what you need to do to win, which is what happened with IJS was introduced, and therefore you get programs that look similar because the athletes are going to do the things that the judges reward.

 

[Skaterbob]

Imagine someone recreating what Surya used to do during her professional days where she did a one-foot backflip (I guess we can call it a layout step-out?) into triple Salchow…

Quad salchow or bust!

 

[ice coverage]

Nothing exciting, but yesterday ISU published a brief video of Athletes Commission members speaking about their work in general terms. (Recorded at ISU Congress, apparently.)

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

I know the ISU Athletes Commission as an entity is not new; I think the idea is to hear a little from each of the current members.

ETA:​

Instagram version later published on Jul 3 has long caption describing functions of Athletes Commission:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C89Dd-qtonp/​

... Don't know when the sentences below on Swiss Timing's site were written, but they say that the video replay system is HD.
I think the part about HD quality could be new?

"We have also introduced a high-definition scoring system for figure skating. Each element presented by the skater is evaluated instantly and reviewed using our combined scoring and HD video replay system. ..."

Scoring - Swiss Timing

Swisstiming Sport Software

www.swisstiming.com

Nope, I was wrong (sorry). HD quality for IJS replays is not new.
Came across article from 2019 that says, "Current replay systems use commercial HD cameras typically recording at 30 frames per second, giving a 33 msec frame time."

http://iceskatingintnl.com/archive/commentaries/ReplaySystem.htm​

 

[ice coverage]

Published today:

ISU Communication No. 2655​

Single & Pair Skating​

Changes in Special Regulations and Technical Rules accepted by the 59th ISU Congress 2024​

​

https://isu.org/inside-isu/isu-communications/communications/34017-isu-communication-2655/file

(But it does not include the changes in technical rules that were approved to take effect in 2026-27 season.)

 

[ice coverage]

Minutes of the 59th Ordinary Congress held at Las Vegas (USA) from June 10 to June 14, 2024:

https://isu-d8g8b4b7ece7aphs.a03.azurefd.net/isudamcontainer/CMS/isucongress/otherdocuments/MINUTESISUCONGRESS2024024036600_17370172914910.pdf

(This 122-page pdf was added to ISU site on Jan 16, 2025.)

 

[Karen-W]

The ISU held an Extraordinary Congress today to pass a new ISU Constitution, which passed.

Inside ISU

Corporate Home - International Skating Union

www.isu.org

I haven't been able to find the text of the proposed ISU Constitution, however they apparently live-streamed it (which I missed because I was asleep, lol) on their YT Channel - https://www.youtube.com/live/lXH_oB3EQGo

 

[Andrea82]

The ISU held an Extraordinary Congress today to pass a new ISU Constitution, which passed.

Inside ISU

Corporate Home - International Skating Union

www.isu.org

I haven't been able to find the text of the proposed ISU Constitution, however they apparently live-streamed it (which I missed because I was asleep, lol) on their YT Channel - https://www.youtube.com/live/lXH_oB3EQGo

Vote on having a secret vote asked by Luxembourg
Yes 29
No 81
Abstentions 13

Requirement to get a secret vote was 1/10 of the vote. So the vote on the new constitution was a secret vote

Breakdown of the vote

https://i.ibb.co/2mXXgpX/Screenshot-2025-07-06-alle-10-17-51.png

Then they had the vote on the actual proposal...but 3 members who were registered to vote didn't immediately vote...therefore lunch break with the online vote opened waiting for them

Yes 119
No 9
Abstentions 2

 

[ice coverage]

The ISU held an Extraordinary Congress today to pass a new ISU Constitution, which passed. ...

I haven't been able to find the text of the proposed ISU Constitution ...

Following up on Karen's post from July ...

I happened to notice today that ISU site has the new Constitution (which does not take effect until next summer).

CONSTITUTION ADOPTED BY THE 1st EXTRAORDINARY ISU CONGRESS 3 July 2025
This Constitution shall come into force at the opening of the 60th Ordinary ISU Congress, except as specified in Appendix 1, Transitional Rules
https://isu-d8g8b4b7ece7aphs.a03.az.../ISU-CONSTITUTION-2025-Rev-1755502332-414.pdf (37 pages)​

(60th Ordinary ISU Congress is scheduled for June 2026.)​

Also on ISU site is other documentation of actions from the Extraordinary Congress.

STANDING ORDERS OF THE CONGRESS
ADOPTED BY THE ISU 1ST EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS AND THE ISU COUNCIL ON 3 & 4 JULY 2025
Effective 3 July 2025
https://isu.org/pdf/Standing_Orders_of_the_Congress_2025.pdf (10 pages)

COUNCIL PROCEDURES & GUIDELINES
ADOPTED BY THE ISU 1ST EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS AND THE ISU COUNCIL ON 3 & 4 JULY 2025
Effective 3 July 2025
https://isu.org/pdf/4a_Council_Procedures_and_Guidelines_2025.pdf (13 pages)

ELECTORAL CODE
ADOPTED BY THE ISU 1ST EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS AND THE ISU COUNCIL ON 3 & 4 JULY 2025
Effective 3 July 2025
https://isu.org/pdf/4b_ISU_Electoral_Code_2025.pdf (11 pages)

ATHLETES COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE
ELECTORAL CODE
ADOPTED BY THE ISU 1ST EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS AND THE ISU COUNCIL ON 3 & 4 JULY 2025
Effective 3 July 2025
https://isu.org/pdf/4c_ISU_Athletes_Committee_2025.pdf (9 pages)

TECHNICAL COMITTEES TERMS OF REFERENCE
ADOPTED BY THE ISU 1ST EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS AND THE ISU COUNCIL ON 3 & 4 JULY 2025
Effective 3 July 2025
https://isu.org/pdf/4d_ISU_Technical_Committees_2025.pdf (13 pages)​

 

[Karen-W]

The ISU has issued a communication regarding the procedural rules for the election of the Athletes Commission which will occur prior to the 2026 ISU Congress.

https://isu-d8g8b4b7ece7aphs.a03.azurefd.net/isudamcontainer/CMS/Corporate-Site/Governance/Transparency/ISU-Communications/2743-ISU-Athletes-Committee-Elections---Procedural-Rules-1764141614-4251.pdf

The Athletes Commission is going to be expanded with additional representatives for Figure Skating - one each for Singles, Pairs, and Ice Dance. Synchro, Speed Skating & Short Track will continue to have one representative each.

2.1. Proposal of Candidates

• In accordance with the Athletes’ Committee Terms of Reference, there will be candidates for a total of 6 positions, representing:

▪ Figures Skating – Single
▪ Figure Skating – Pairs
▪ Figure Skating – Ice Dance
▪ Synchronised Skating
▪ Speed Skating
▪ Short Track

• Candidates must be formally nominated by the ISU Member for which the athlete competes, in line with ISU Regulations and Sports Rules.

• Each ISU Member may nominate only one athlete per Branch (Figure Skating Branch or Speed Skating Branch).

• The same athlete may be nominated for only one discipline, even if they have competed in multiple disciplines.

Athletes who meet the following criteria are eligible:

o is eligible as defined in the ISU Regulations;
o competed in at least one (senior) ISU Event of the respective discipline within the previous eight (8) seasons before the season of the election;
o is not under sanction for any violation of the World Anti-Doping Code, ISU Anti-Doping Regulations, ISU Code of Ethics, IOC Code of Ethics, other disciplinary offence, Safe Sport offence, and/or other ethical offence;
o on the 1st January of the season of the election, must be at least eighteen (18) years of age; and
o must be proficient in English.

Eligible voters include:

• ISU Short Track World Tour (in respect of season 2025/2026, up to and including December 31, 2025)
• ISU Speed Skating World Cup (in respect of season 2025/2026, up to and including December 31, 2025)
• ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating (including Final) (in respect of season2025/2026, up to and including December 31, 2025) • ISU Figure Skating Challenger Series (in respect of season 2025/2026, up to and including December 31, 2025);
• ISU Synchronised Skating CS SYS events (Senior Competitors only) (in respect of season 2025/2026, up to and including February 28, 2025)
...
• All athletes (including substitutes/reserves) are officially entered in the above designated ISU Event(s) for the election.
...
• An athlete may only vote for the candidate to represent their discipline.

Voting for Figure Skating, Speed Skating & Short Track candidates runs from Jan 15, 2026 through Feb 28, 2026; voting for Synchro Skating candidates runs from March 1, 2026 through March 21, 2026.

Once the election results are announced, the Committee-in-waiting will elect a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson who must be from different Branches (so, one will be FS/Synchro, the other will be Speed/ShortTrack), and the entire new Committee will be invited to attend the 2026 ISU Congress.