ISU Upholds Election Changes

(From L) China's Han Tianyu, Great Britain's Jon Eley, US J R Celski and Netherlands' Sjinkie Knegt compete in the Men's Short Track 500 m Final B at the Iceberg Skating Palace during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 21, 2014. AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JE (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images)

(ATR) The International Skating Union Congress in Dublin rejected all proposals to extend the age limit of the presidency.

The ruling means Ottavio Cinquanta’s presidency will end in 2016.

A proposal in 2012 extended the term of President Cinquanta from 2014 to 2016, despite delegates bringing up multiple proposals to change the presidential term age limit.

Cinquanta, who turns 75 this year, will reach the age limit in August, but will serve out his term extended by the 2012 Congress.

"As with any election year where there will be a change in presidency, 2016 will be an important year in the history of the ISU," David Raith, executive director of U.S. Figure Skating, told Around the Rings.

The congress featured "an open discussion for ISU members on the first day of the Congress to express their thoughts and opinions regarding participation in ISU activities, promotion and marketing, and ideas for the 2016 ISU elections," according to Raith.

A number of changes were passed during the Congress, including:

• Qualification for the Winter Games for short track speed skating will take place over four World Cups instead of two

• Mass starts will be proposed for the 500m event at the 2018 Winter Games

• Figure skaters from the host country who did not qualify for the Olympic Games through the normal process may still do so through the minimum required technical score

A proposal from the United States, Greece, and Russia to eliminate anonymity in judging for figure skating was rejected despite receiving a majority of votes.

"While we are disappointed the proposal did not receive the two-third votes required to pass, we were pleased it was supported by a majority of the voting. We fully expect this topic to be proposed again in two years at the 2016 ISU Congress."

The 2017 ISU World Championships was allocated to Helsinki, Finland at the congress, and the 2017 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships will serve as an Olympic Test Event in PyeongChang.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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