The International Skating Union continues to deepen its modernization process with a vision aimed at adapting skating to new times without losing the historic essence that has made it one of the most traditional sports within the Olympic Movement. During THE SPOT 2026, held in Lausanne, ISU Director General Colin Smith joined leaders from other international federations to discuss how global sport is navigating an environment shaped by technological transformation, new consumption habits, and the need to connect with increasingly young and digital audiences.
At the panel titled “Innovation in International Federations: Challenges and Opportunities”, Smith presented the Vision 2030 strategy, the project through which the ISU seeks to build a more modern, flexible, and future-ready structure. The discussion focused on a challenge facing the entire sports ecosystem: how to move from intention to execution at a time when athletes, fans, media, and commercial partners expect experiences that differ from those of previous decades. For the ISU, innovation does not simply mean adopting new technological tools, but also transforming organizational culture and the way the sport is presented to the world.
The ISU seeks to balance its historic legacy with a new vision for sport
With a history dating back to 1892, the ISU faces the challenge of evolving without breaking its deep-rooted connection to tradition. During his remarks, Colin Smith described the federation as a “134-year-old startup,” reflecting the complexity of leading a historic sport within an industry that is constantly changing. As he explained, figure skating can no longer be consumed or presented in the same way it was decades ago, because today’s audiences demand more dynamic, accessible, and emotionally engaging formats tied to the sports entertainment experience.
This transformation is especially visible in the way the federation is reinventing its competitions. The ISU aims to move beyond traditional formats to create immersive experiences that combine sport, entertainment, and culture, designed for both in-person spectators and fans following events on digital platforms. This approach also affects the organization’s commercial and audiovisual strategy, which seeks to adapt broadcast rights and content development to a global audience accustomed to consuming sport across multiple screens and instant formats.
Technology, artificial intelligence, and modernization as pillars of the future
Within the Vision 2030 strategy, technology plays a central role in the evolution of skating. Among the most notable initiatives are artificial intelligence and computer vision tools developed to support judging in figure skating. These systems, trained over two years through machine learning and image analysis captured by cameras, will begin to be used as support tools for judges next season, with the possibility of being progressively integrated into the official scoring system.
The ISU is also promoting technologies focused on athlete development and performance analysis, including its collaboration with Aiving, a specialized tool for jump tracking and technical metrics. The platform was recognized during THE SPOT 2026 in the sports innovation challenge focused on artificial intelligence and robotics. However, Smith emphasized that technology alone does not guarantee change. In his view, true transformation depends on building a shared organizational philosophy, where leaders, federations, and teams understand innovation as part of the sport’s DNA rather than merely a passing trend.
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