IOC Council approves figure skating team event

I read SamuraiKike's post and asked the question right after I posted mine. I then left my flat immediately and, upon returning, just read Hersch's article. So, the Team event will come first, eh? That's kind of weird to me somehow. More interesting how the team members will be selected though.

Even though the US won the 2009 World Team Trophy, having just one Man and one Lady in each team instead of two will take away its deep fields advantage, especially with cumulative scores. It's better to have one Chan or one Asada than a bunch of Bradleys or Flatts.

I wonder if figure skating will continue to share a venue with short-track speed skating, as it has done the past few Olympics. FS down days used to be short-track days. This could compress the schedules for two sports.

I think a lot of medal contenders might want to stay away from this event. having to focus on two events is routine for many sports, but would be brand new to skaters. I think many won't want to risk it.

Antilles said:

I wonder if figure skating will continue to share a venue with short-track speed skating, as it has done the past few Olympics. FS down days used to be short-track days. This could compress the schedules for two sports.

I think a lot of medal contenders might want to stay away from this event. having to focus on two events is routine for many sports, but would be brand new to skaters. I think many won't want to risk it.

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Yes, in Sochi the figure skating venue will be shared with short track. Assuming they stagger days as in the past, doubt if there's a way to compress the schedules too much due to switchover time requirements, which includes the ice itself (ice has to be colder for s-t and doing the temperature switch is not an instant process). It's more likely an extra couple of figure skating days will have to be added on the front end of the venue schedule.

I'm not getting that excited by this new event announcement so far...

Hello, I'm a new user of Germany and this is my first post.

I see the inclusion of the team event in figure skating to the olympic program a little more critical because there are to many open questions.

If the team event will be staged in the first 3 days of the olympics (Cinquanta commented), it is very doubtful, that the big favorites in the individual events will compete. For example, I really can not imagine that Savchenko/Szolkowy will compete the team-event, if there (more important) individual pair event will start one or two days later.

Next, are there really 10 teams to compete? Of course: US, Russia, Canada (most likely the podium, Japan would also be out, because Tran is not eligible), China, Germany (with or without S/S), France, Italy. And then? Maybe Czech Rep. (actual no competitive lady), maybe Ukraine (after Voloshozar switched country very doubtful too), maybe GBR (actually quite weak in each discipline after K/K retired).
But even if there would be 10 teams, the question is, whether a national olympic comitee would nominate a figure skating team, if the skaters partially failed to qualify for the individual events? (Does the ISU allow them to compete in team events, if they are non-qualifier for the individual events?)

The next problem is the time schedule. Figure skating and short track share a venue. In the last olympics there are usually 5 days for short track speed skating, 9 days for figure skating (8 competive + 1 gala). Assumed the skating events remain evening events (which I would prefer), there are max. 1 more additional competion day (the 16th day is not possible because of the closing ceremony).

So, if there is really the wish to include a team competition to the olympics, I prefer to host this event after the individual events as a one-day competition, only with the short program to compete. I think in that case, most of the favourites will compete.

A last question: Are there any statements of skaters about this new figure skating olympic team event? I would like to hear their opinions and what do they think about the possible new skating schedule?

Thanks for joining us, Micnow. Welcome to the forum. Post often, post long!

It's not exactly like Gymnastics where the same athletes do all four events.

Let's review the Big Six
(Given what we know)

Canada: Strong in Ice Dance; Contender in Mens; Maybe a squeeze podium for Pairs; no Ladies

China: Strong in Pairs; not much else

France: Contender in Mens and Dance

Japan: Strong in Mens, and Ladies

Russia: Strong in Pairs; Contender in Men's and Ice Dance.

USA: Strong in Ice Dance; Contender in Mens.

Non Big Six

Germany: strong in Pairs.

All of the above are considered as NOW. What happens before the Olys we must look for retirements; withdrawals. Also the the question of the newbies, will they be ready?

One Other Question for the US: Will the US Nationals decide who is on the Team?

Here are some comments by U.S. Figure Skating Executive Director David Raith in an Icenetwork article published yesterday:

The IOC announcement specifies the Olympic team event will consist of each of the four figure skating disciplines, but does not specify the number of skaters that may compete. Some countries may wish to use different skaters for the short and long programs.

"One of the questions would be can a team use just one athlete [or couple] per discipline, or can substitutions be made," Raith said.

"Preliminarily, we've heard there will be a short and long program, but we also hear that teams can substitute different athletes if those athletes are already there at the Olympics. There are a lot of questions still, but I am confident they can be determined to the benefit of all."
...
"There is an ISU Council meeting this week, the world championships are in three weeks, and there is an ISU office-holders meeting in early June, so we would expect more concrete details no later than the end of June."

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Sylvia said:

Here are some comments by U.S. Figure Skating Executive Director David Raith in an Icenetwork article published yesterday:

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Thanks for the TIP, Sylvia. I'll be interested in what the ISU Council would suggest for the details of the Team. However, the OIC, I believe would have the Final Say.

I wonder if some skaters will emerge as "short program specialists" and "long program specialists."

The reason why they can't yet combine the Team Event with the World Championship yet is because there is still an outstanding TV contract with TV Asahi of Japan. TV Asahi and JSF being the corporate and skating federation sponsors respectively, with the former provided the funding for the event, including $1 million in prize money for the skaters.

Hopefully, with Japan recovered from the natural disasters by next year, so that the TV Asahi contract can be fulfilled by April 2012 - it is likely that the ISU will test try a combined individual and team events at the 2013 Worlds in London. By which time, the details on how the events will be scheduled and who should be on the team and etc., will be a lot clearer. This is a World Championship I wouldn't want to miss.

Mathman said:

I wonder if some skaters will emerge as "short program specialists" and "long program specialists."

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Yes, I think so.

Let's hope after one trial they will put the Team event where it belongs - last after all individual events have been completed. That's when the team members can focus on going all out on the ice, especially if there are newly developed motivations such as personal redemptions, rematches and national rivalries. Oh the drama! It's ridiculous to do Teams first for all kinds of reasons.

Oh, Mathman, we already have the world's foremost SP specialist in the person of Nobunari Oda! Canada's Kevin Reynolds could train to be one, as could most Quad Squad also runs, especially if they can do two different quads.

As for limited number of hopefuls in this event, it's the same in most sports. These nations are the markets advertizers are interested in anyway. As well, patriotism is a great marketing tool.

SkateFiguring said:

Let's hope after one trial they will put the Team event where it belongs - last after all individual events have been completed. That's when the team members can focus on going all out on the ice, especially if there are newly developed motivations such as personal redemptions, rematches and national rivalries. Oh the drama! It's ridiculous to do Teams first for all kinds of reasons.

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Do you think so? In gymnastics, the team event is always the first, followed by individual all around, then event finals. It excites gymnastics fans no problem in that order!

I like the idea of short & long program specialists!

It would allow more people on the team, which would be cool, too.

According to the USFS link, the OIC mentioned there will be one male, one female, 2 couples to form the Team. The USFS is awaiting further clarification.

While it would be fun to mention who is the better SP skater, etc., I think its best to wait further details.

Perhaps in Sylvia's note, the Exec Director was just thinking out loud. Anyway, we will know more complete offical news not later than June.