2024 ISU Congress Agenda

[On My Own]

I'm just sitting here laughing. They went through this process and lengthy debate when it was implemented a few years ago only for them to pull back at, literally, the last possible minute and revert to the schedule/format we've had in place since QRs were eliminated, what, a dozen years ago?

no one said they were smart or that they deserve rights all the time. just deserve rights this one time.

 

[ice coverage]

Two bald guys spoke about the proposal from Netherlands.
Jeroen Prins of Netherlands spoke first.
Followed by Wieland Luthers, who is ISU Event Manager for Figure Skating. (Same guy who was previously mentioned on Monday in this thread.)
Luthers spoke right before Auxier.

Correcting myself: Wieland's last name is Lüders.
Sorry for my mistake.

Technical panel accuracy - ISU contacted SportLogic about developing technology to measure jump rotations which proved successful in proof of concept stage, working to move to the next stage and exploring AI possibilities, currently testing video capabilities, could move to further testing this next season

No big whoop, but the name of Craig Buntin's company is spelled Sportlogiq.

 

[Karen-W]

Special Regulations for FS are completed and they're now working through the Syncrho Special Regs (start on pg 110 of the Congress Agenda doc).

 

[Theatregirl1122]

OMG I can’t believe they killed the QRs. I’m thrilled, but I can’t believe it!

 

[overedge]

Here is a list of all the proposals that were voted on so far (on the ISU website)

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

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)...

isu.org

For a federation whose working language is English, why oh why oh why is it so difficult for the ISU to write its information in clear, consistent English?
e.g. "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."
could be
"reduce vacancies in appointed positions within Technical Committees by allowing committees to fill one vacancy, on a short-term or as-needed basis, by a person with qualifications relevant to the tasks of the committee".

 

[Karen-W]

And we're back... Going over the major technical rule changes proposed. Time to pay attention!

ISU Package 226-233

 

[On My Own]

have there been any coffee breaks with ominous background music

 

[Karen-W]

have there been any coffee breaks with ominous background music

Yes. There were 2 coffee breaks.

I'm not sure what the outcome of 226-233 was because I'm also in a Team Mtg at work but they've moved on to 234-246 and they've already voted to vote on them individually rather than as a package.

 

[Debbie S]

Benoit, you told people to talk fast, don't blame Eric for following your instructions.

ETA: OK, what was Eric going to bring up that Benoit immediately shut down?

 

[Coco]

They will probably up the qualifying scores.

 

[On My Own]

I'm not sure what the outcome of 226-233 was because I'm also in a Team Mtg at work but they've moved on to 234-246 and they've already voted to vote on them individually rather than as a package.

you're like the only person in this class at ISUniversity, not sure why you're putting yourself through it

 

[Sylvia]

Thanks to @Karen-W and anyone else for posting updates (I can't watch right now) for those of us who are interested in what's happening at the Congress.

 

[On My Own]

Thanks to @Karen-W and anyone else for posting updates (I can't watch right now) for those of us who are interested in what's happening at the Congress.

I agree that she makes it easy for us by letting us copy her homework

 

[Debbie S]

"The last jump is just something thrown in for the points." Yes, Ilia's 3Lz-3A combo was the most boring thing ever.

 

[Theoreticalgirl]

Is it me, or does this session feel like a hot mess?

 

[Theoreticalgirl]

People are raising issues about the way the counting of votes is being done in the absence of an electronic system, asking for the cards to be counted, and Lavoie basically went "No, eff that"

And then IRE went, we should do a secret ballot

JFC I can't believe we let these clowns run the ISU

 

[Debbie S]

Is it me, or does this session feel like a hot mess?

Which would explain why some voting members ran away after the last break. Bless the woman for trying to "assure good governance" but this scene is why I could never go to GC.

And now she wants a sekret vote? Uh no.

Wait a minute, what happened to #239, the limit on jumps? They're discussing tomorrow? Sorry, trying to work at the same time.

 

[Karen-W]

Okay, I've rewound now that I'm on my lunch break and will try to catch up.

226-233 -

JSF opposed 227 as part of this package - but the members voted to keep it in the package. Someone else wanted 232 removed - that one passed as it was related to the Worlds QR that got eliminated this morning. The rest of the package passed.

234-246 -

USFS - opposed to 239, 240 & 245 as part of the package. JSF wants to remove 241 from the package.

Just listening to this discussion with Benoit and some of the other ISU Council/Legal folks who are trying their hardest to shut down any in-depth discussion. I'd be livid if I were the ISU Members who want to actually discuss these proposals with the deflection that's happening from TPTB.

 

[On My Own]

Why voldemort is there

 

[ice coverage]

Wait a minute, what happened to #239, the limit on jumps? They're discussing tomorrow? Sorry, trying to work at the same time.

If I have things straight:

Vote was taken today on USA's objection to 239 (after it eventually was discussed today).
The objection was voted down.
So 239 stays in the Single & Pair Skating Technical Committee's package.​

 

[Karen-W]

USFS, Ukraine - both opposed to the whole package at this point.

Cong Han speaking - CFSA supports the package.

USFS does not agree with implementing these changes in the pre-Olympic season.

Simon Briggs agrees with Troy Goldstein in opposition to 245 (pairs choreo lift and choreo spin).

Papa Boris - people are looking for something special and the crowd reacted to Ilia's FS at Worlds because it was special - faster, higher, stronger is the Olympic ideal - opposed to eliminating one jumping pass.

Fabio Bianchetti - lol - just got to "the last jump is the easiest one" - dude, the last jump is gonna be the easiest one whether you have 6 or 7 jumping passes. The logic he proffered up was laughable.

239 - kept in package
240 - kept in package

Voting tomorrow on whether to keep 241, 245 & 246 in the package and then on the package itself.

 

[Spikefan]

Yes. No QRs at all going forward.

I'm sure there will be an update from the Boston organizing committee with a revised schedule but I guess people can change their hotel reservations or spend a full extra day on sightseeing, lol.

Thankfully I booked my Saturday night room separate from my Sunday to Sunday as rates have gone up. I wasn’t sure when I wanted to arrive but this settles it for Sunday.

 

[ice coverage]

Adding to Karen's notes:

Yevgeny Martynov (Daniel's father) is the one who spoke on behalf of Ukraine.
Igor Lukanin spoke on behalf of Azerbaijan. He seemed to question whether 239 would make programs more exciting and increase viewership.
Part (not all) of the concern of Troy Goldstein and Simon Briggs was that it would not be the right time to make the pair changes -- with 2025 Worlds as a qualifier for Olympic spots.
(Also: As Lavoie already was moving on from the discussion period to start the votes regarding each proposal that received an objection, Ari Zakarian could be seen hoping for a turn to speak, but he was too late.)​

... Voting tomorrow on whether to keep 241, 245 & 246 in the package and then on the package itself.

There was a procedural discussion, prompted by the woman from Ireland (ETA: her name is Karen O'Sullivan), as to whether members are allowed to vote on a package (ETA: of proposals pertaining to technical rules) as a whole.
(ETA: Beginning at approx. 4:09:05) ISU legal advisor Michael Geistlinger firmly said that per existing ISU Constitution (ETA: Article 11, Paragraph 2), members are not allowed to vote on such a package as a whole. Members are allowed to vote only on whether an individual proposal is removed from such a package.

 

[Karen-W]

Adding to Karen's notes:

Yevgeny Martynov (Daniel's father) is the one who spoke on behalf of Ukraine.​

Igor Lukanin spoke on behalf of Azerbaijan. He seemed to question whether 239 would make programs more exciting and increase viewership.​

Part (not all) of the concern of Troy Goldstein and Simon Briggs was that it would not be the right time to make the pair changes -- with 2025 Worlds as a qualifier for Olympic spots.​

(Also: As Lavoie already was moving on from the discussion period to start the votes regarding each proposal that received an objection, Ari Zakarian could be seen was hoping for a turn to speak, but he was too late.)​

There was a procedural discussion, prompted by the woman from Ireland, as to whether members are allowed to vote on a package as a whole.
ISU legal advisor Michael Geistlinger firmly said that per existing ISU Constitution, members are not allowed to vote on a package as a whole. Members are allowed to vote only on whether an individual proposal is removed from the package.

We also know the JSF is opposed to implementing this in the pre-Olympic season based upon their remarks Monday afternoon. At this point, with two big feds plus GBR and then smaller feds ALSO opposing it right now, I think it's likely to be either voted down entirely or amended to be implemented in 2026-27. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

 

[skatingguy]

Going back to the elimination of the QR round - does that mean that the current system to qualify for worlds is now in place again, or are we keeping the new qualification system, and just going straight to the short/rhythm programs?

 

[Karen-W]

Going back to the elimination of the QR round - does that mean that the current system to qualify for worlds is now in place again, or are we keeping the new qualification system, and just going straight to the short/rhythm programs?

Current system to qualify for Worlds is now in place again. I presume this means we stick with the TES mins for SP/RD and FS/FD.

 

[skatingguy]

Current system to qualify for Worlds is now in place again. I presume this means we stick with the TES mins for SP/RD and FS/FD.

That's surprising because that was the thing that the lower ranked federations were complaining about, and the qualifying round, and new qualification system would have increased the number of federations represented at the World Championships. That is quite the turn around from two years ago.

 

[Karen-W]

That's surprising because that was the thing that the lower ranked federations were complaining about, and the qualifying round, and new qualification system would have increased the number of federations represented at the World Championships. That is quite the turn around from two years ago.

I know! I watched the Congress two years ago and the smaller feds were adamant about wanting the QRs so that their skaters could say they competed at Worlds. Austria's rep was basically "this is going to be expensive to send our skaters there only to have them out after the QR, plus it's more difficult to organize because you need the rinks for longer, etc."

 

[On My Own]

have there been any coffee breaks with ominous background music

This needs to be someone's music choice this year btw

- 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

 

[Rukia]

This needs to be someone's music choice this year btw

- 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

throw in a few typewriter sound effects or honking horns and this is an instant benoit classic