- Joined
- Jan 17, 2014
So curious question: would it be possible to make figure skating work like tennis does: ATP and WTA tours?
First strip the skaters from their nationalities. They are just skaters in open circuit on tour. Going from tourneys to tourneys making money. Make them national federation independent.
Yes, governed by a single body of ISU, just like ATP/WTA. Single rules, single organization.
Skaters would represent themselves only. This would make pairs much much more interesting, as they would be able to form multinational pairs, just like tennis doubles.
Create totally open circuit of touring skaters. Totally open circuit. Remove eligibility vs. illegibility. Everyone is legible.
There would be competitions of different degree giving points and money. Skaters would collect points and form individual rankings under strict ISU umbrella. There would be slams. Grand Prix would be slams! Winning Grand Prix would be much bigger than even winning the Worlds. Who in tennis cares about OG now? Winning a slam is the pinnacle of a career.
Yes, the strict technical rules regulated by single organization (ISU) will have to stay. It's the only way to maintain the integrity of the sport. But there are strict rules in ATP/WTA too.
Would it help revive the dying sport? Would it attract viewers, media and sponsors? Would it bring back life?
Look at the sport. It's dying. I remember times when Grand Prix were televised live on prime time. Now you have to seek obscure channels to watch pre-recorded events. And it's not even HD!
Even the Worlds is leaving prime time. I remember when the Worlds was a major TV event! I remember when Figure Skating was a major sport! What happened???
Why is it dying so quickly?
Look at WTA. WTA has more money now than most sports around the world. It is now one of the most major sports in the world. It shows how opening the sport can bring energy to it!
Very soon figure skating will be limited to three countries: Russia, China and Japan. With some very occasional Canadians. And when limited only to those three countries it will start dying there too. It will become a third grade sport bringing some attention ONLY during Olympics and virtually non-existent in between. Will become another ski jumping or hammer throwing. Even snowboarding is surpassing figure skating now. What really happened?
So would opening figure skating to the totally open circuit help it? Just like in tennis?
First strip the skaters from their nationalities. They are just skaters in open circuit on tour. Going from tourneys to tourneys making money. Make them national federation independent.
Yes, governed by a single body of ISU, just like ATP/WTA. Single rules, single organization.
Skaters would represent themselves only. This would make pairs much much more interesting, as they would be able to form multinational pairs, just like tennis doubles.
Create totally open circuit of touring skaters. Totally open circuit. Remove eligibility vs. illegibility. Everyone is legible.
There would be competitions of different degree giving points and money. Skaters would collect points and form individual rankings under strict ISU umbrella. There would be slams. Grand Prix would be slams! Winning Grand Prix would be much bigger than even winning the Worlds. Who in tennis cares about OG now? Winning a slam is the pinnacle of a career.
Yes, the strict technical rules regulated by single organization (ISU) will have to stay. It's the only way to maintain the integrity of the sport. But there are strict rules in ATP/WTA too.
Would it help revive the dying sport? Would it attract viewers, media and sponsors? Would it bring back life?
Look at the sport. It's dying. I remember times when Grand Prix were televised live on prime time. Now you have to seek obscure channels to watch pre-recorded events. And it's not even HD!
Even the Worlds is leaving prime time. I remember when the Worlds was a major TV event! I remember when Figure Skating was a major sport! What happened???
Why is it dying so quickly?
Look at WTA. WTA has more money now than most sports around the world. It is now one of the most major sports in the world. It shows how opening the sport can bring energy to it!
Very soon figure skating will be limited to three countries: Russia, China and Japan. With some very occasional Canadians. And when limited only to those three countries it will start dying there too. It will become a third grade sport bringing some attention ONLY during Olympics and virtually non-existent in between. Will become another ski jumping or hammer throwing. Even snowboarding is surpassing figure skating now. What really happened?
So would opening figure skating to the totally open circuit help it? Just like in tennis?
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