The International Skating Union (ISU) is going through a decisive phase in its history, shaped by the need to adapt, grow, and respond to an increasingly demanding and global sports ecosystem. In this context, the recent meeting of its Council became a key platform to assess progress, make decisions, and reaffirm the direction of Vision 2030, the strategic plan aimed at modernising ice skating across all disciplines and regions.
Held during a full Olympic season, the meeting went beyond operational matters and placed the focus on the people who sustain the sport, including athletes, coaches, federations, and local communities. The decisions taken are designed to strengthen long-term development, improve competitive formats, and ensure fairer and more transparent processes in event organisation, laying solid foundations for inclusive and sustainable growth.
A new event model for a more global skating landscape
One of the central themes of the meeting was the review of the event hosting allocation model, with the introduction of a more structured, coherent, and transparent bidding process for the 2027–28 cycle. This approach, supported by clear evaluation criteria, aims to ensure high-quality events that not only meet technical standards but also drive the sporting and commercial development of each discipline.
As a result, the Council confirmed a diverse group of host member federations across figure skating, short track, speed skating, and synchronized skating, with representation in Europe, Asia, and North America. This distribution reflects a clear intention to decentralise skating and bring major competitions to new audiences. In parallel, the concept of the Combined World Championships, which would unite the four ISU disciplines under a single event, continues to progress as a forward-looking proposal, with feasibility work underway and a final decision expected in spring 2026.
Development, excellence, and direct support for member federations
The second major pillar addressed by the Council was the strengthening of development pathways, with a particular focus on the continuity of the ISU Centres of Excellence. The extension of the programme through the 2026/27 season ensures stability while the strategic framework for the 2027–2030 period is being designed. These centres, located across multiple continents, operate as high-performance training hubs where knowledge exchange and international cooperation help raise the technical standard of skating worldwide.
Through training camps, technical seminars, and educational programmes, the Centres of Excellence directly support the preparation of skaters, coaches, and officials, expanding equitable access to technical expertise. This approach is complemented by concrete support measures for member federations, such as the approval of event relocations in Kazakhstan, prioritising improvements to spectator experience and event presentation. Taken together, these actions reflect adaptive governance focused on the global development of ice skating.
