– Dubrovnik, Croatia
The International Skating Union’s 56th Ordinary Congress concluded on June 10, 2016 in Dubrovnik (CRO). Over 350 Delegates from 85 ISU Member federations were present to vote on over 370 proposals and to elect candidates to ISU Office. The Congress was officially opened by ISU President Mr. Ottavio Cinquanta, who made a special acknowledgement of thanks to the Croatian Skating Federation for its organization of the Congress.
Key decisions by the Congress:
Constitution and General Regulations
The Congress voted in favor to create an Athletes’ Commission.
Beginning with the elections in 2016 the number of Council Members will increase from four to five Council members in each Branch. The ISU Council will now consist of the President, Vice President and five members for Figure Skating Branch and a Vice President and five members for the Speed Skating Branch.
A new Development Commission will be created to manage the ISU development projects however other proposals to create a standing Marketing and Presidents’ Commission were rejected. However with the recommendation to cooperate with Members through an ad hoc working group.
The ISU Council made a number of proposals in order to adjust the ISU eligibility rules following the decision of the European Commission to open an investigation against the ISU eligibly rules.
A proposal to provide consistency to the Rule 109 regarding the participation in competitions and permit requirement was passed. The new rule helps clarify the issue of athlete clearances and harmonizes the waiting period for release to 12 months.
Speed Skating
Congress agreed to restructure the Speed Skating European Championships format. The European Speed Skating Championships will be organized annually over three days with two alternative programs. In the seasons before and after the seasons of the Olympic Winter Games, the Championships will be held with an Allround and Sprint combination events and the other seasons will have a Single Distance and Team events format.
Team Sprint officially becomes a Speed Skating Event in the European Championships as of 2016/17 and a World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships as of 2018/19. World Records will now be registered for the Event.
A proposal to introduce a World hour record along with a proposal regarding the restructuring of ISU World Speed Skating Championships to alternate the World Allround, Sprint and Single Distances Championships were rejected.
ShortTrack Speed Skating
The Congress agreed to allow to test new forms of racing. Although a proposal to introduce an ISU Nations Trophy Short Track event was defeated, a resolution was agreed to look into this specific format for the future.
A number of Technical Rules were approved in order to help to clarify the classification rules and final Rankings.
Single and Pair Skating and Ice Dance
The ISU Congress voted to abolish the anonymity of Judges in the Figure Skating Branch (including Single and Pair Skating, Ice Dance and Synchronized Skating).
The age limit of ISU Referees, Judges, Technical Controllers, Technical Specialists and Data &Replay Operators was unified to the maximum age of 70.
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.
As of season 2018/19 there will be 11 Grades of Excution which will enable more possibilities in the evalution of the quality of programs.
In order to ensure that the best placed Skaters following the Short Program / Dance are always in the final two or three in a draw group, the Congress agreed to a new draw procedure.
Synchronized Skating
The Synchronized Skating Technical Committee presented to the Congress a number of proposals that would harmonize the Rules with Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance Rules which were subsequently accepted.
It was announced that the 57th Ordinary Congress will be held in Seville (ESP) in June 2018.
