2022-23 Coaching, Country and Discipline changes

[Jumping_Bean]

I wonder why you don't know things like this before partnering up.

Because most feds don't hold their skaters hostage for extended periods of time by giving them a huge amount of demands they have to fulfill.
You only know what you're dealing with once you're already in the middle of the process, long after you've paired up with someone.

Wow. Is this legal for BSU to demand payment? I realize U.S. fed also tried to get payment from Pfund/ Santillan when they wanted their release to skate for Switzerland. I thought federations are required to release skaters who have requested their release, after a designated period of time. Ivan Desyatov is Russian by birth. He was released from Russia to skate for Belarus in junior ice dance.

I see from Bella's post that they are being given a hard time by BSU. I suppose Bella/ Vanya don't want to go the legal route, which could be time-consuming and probably also expensive, unless they are backed by their federation and the ISU.

I wish them both good luck. They are such a promising team. I will certainly donate to their cause.

There are no rules regarding what ISU members can demand in order to release someone, only that they can't deny an application "unreasonably". What is considered unreasonable is within the discretion of the ISU, so who knows what the rules actually mean? (I'm guessing having to wait for 1.5 years and pay 25k is not considered unreasonable).
The ISU deliberately kept their rules very vague when it came to country changes against the will of the previous federation, and there's no actual rule forcing feds to release skaters even after many years (just that the ISU can override the feds' decisions if they think it's warranted).

Hopefully, the ISU is paying attention to this (and some other recent cases) and clarifies its rules in the near future, because with the way the rules are currently written, they give way too much power to the individual federations and essentially allow them to trap skaters for many years (or even indefinitely).

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

and releases should be automatic for those who really have never competed internationally.

Vanya has never competed internationally in seniors. He did compete during Fall 2021 on the JGP for Belarus, with his former partner.

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

I hope Bella & Vanya will be able to reach their gofundme goal soon. It's heartwarming to see the response so far by their supporters in the skating community.

I wonder what the "many demands" were by BSU that they already had to meet!

 

[Jumping_Bean]

By the way, Davis/Smolkin's transfer to Georgia has officially been confirmed: https://tass.ru/sport/17929179

 

[kolyadafan2002]

Isabella Flores (USA) announced that her Belarusian ice dance partner Ivan Desyatov can’t be released from the Belarus fed without them paying BSU 25k USD. She is crowdfunding. https://www.instagram.com/p/CtFPMDyxgyV/

For people asking why this is the case:

Usually the fed will support a skater financially - I.e. paying for training, camps, competition flights etc. Usually when a fed demands money, they are asking to be repaid an estimates amount of money they put into this skater. This is allowed so skaters don't use federations for money then switch to a different federation.

If Vanya didn't believe that he recieved that amount of financial support from the federation, he can appeal. Then the ISU will usually mediate.

 

[4everchan]

By the way, Davis/Smolkin's transfer to Georgia has officially been confirmed: https://tass.ru/sport/17929179

oh wait... so it's georgia not israel??? sucks for K/R

OMG... does this mean we could have both Eteri and the Georgian Fed lady at the same time in the KnC ? HAHA !!!!

 

[CrazyKittenLady]

OMG... does this mean we could have both Eteri and the Georgian Fed lady at the same time in the KnC?

 

[GoneWithTheWind]

That is very unfortunate for them, but I hope they don't pay the Belarussian fed any money.

I agree, I've also seen some comments on skating Twitter/another site of people being uncomfortable with the idea of handing a large sum of money to a federation who are currently banned.

 

[elektra blue]

oh wait... so it's georgia not israel??? sucks for K/R

OMG... does this mean we could have both Eteri and the Georgian Fed lady at the same time in the KnC ? HAHA !!!!

double gif, double trouble

 

[yesterday]

double gif, double trouble

don't tease me, don't tease me

 

[elektra blue]

don't tease me, don't tease me

do i really need to? i know you know that i know you want it

 

[BlissfulSynergy]

I agree, I've also seen some comments on skating Twitter/another site of people being uncomfortable with the idea of handing a large sum of money to a federation who are currently banned.

Brass tacks. If they don't pay, Vanya won't be released, which translates to not having a career, after how hard they've been working together. They have two exciting programs this season! After sitting out last season as required, they need to compete this season internationally for their career to gain momentum. I don't look at my monetary support as 'handing a large sum of money to a banned federation.' I look at it as investing in the future of a promising and talented young ice dance team, who deserve to have a future together in skating.

Obviously, U.S. fed has been involved in the negotiations since they would have formally requested Vanya's release. Bella indicates that "many demands" have already been met, but it's not clear what was entailed. I would imagine that the athletes and their coaches, with the assistance of U.S. fed, are trying to get Vanya's release accomplished as efficiently and fairly as possible. It appears they have been given a hard time by BSU, which is unfortunate.

On a happier note, the figure skating community has responded with quick and generous support. In about 30 or so hours, just over $11,300 has been raised. I hope they can reach their goal very soon, so they can get this roadblock behind them and continue their training with the possibility of international assignments this fall.

Bella & Vanya were featured in an article on icedance.com last year, which gives some insight into how they came together, and how they share a palpable connection, and a fighting spirit. Vanya lost both his parents when he was a teenager, but he has a caring older brother, other relatives, and friends he left behind to pursue his skating dreams. Many of us are aware of the struggle Bella faced early last year. They have been blessed to find each other, and to match so well. I'm glad they are receiving such uplifting support!

Flores & Desyatov: Our Goal is to Break Barriers – Ice-dance.com

www.ice-dance.com

 

[Amei]

oh wait... so it's georgia not israel??? sucks for K/R

OMG... does this mean we could have both Eteri and the Georgian Fed lady at the same time in the KnC ? HAHA !!!!

Georgia makes the most sense, its the Fed outside of Russia that Eteri has any stroke in and Diana has familial connections, which is typically a parameter for country-switching to be okay.

 

[4everchan]

Georgia makes the most sense, its the Fed outside of Russia that Eteri has any stroke in and Diana has familial connections, which is typically a parameter for country-switching to be okay.

that's what I would have thought some time ago... but then the Israel rumours were very strong with that one...
Diana was born in the USA... I guess the field is too deep for that... in any case, I will be still rooting for my favourite Georgian team !

 

[Weathergal]

that's what I would have thought some time ago... but then the Israel rumours were very strong with that one...
Diana was born in the USA... I guess the field is too deep for that... in any case, I will be still rooting for my favourite Georgian team !

Yeah, I can't help but wonder what Kazakova / Reviya think of this.

 

[elektra blue]

Yeah, I can't help but wonder what Kazakova / Reviya think of this.

*insert Georgian lady gif here*

 

[yesterday]

*insert Georgian lady gif here*

you need to bookmark it

 

[Sai Bon]

Yeah, I can't help but wonder what Kazakova / Reviya think of this.

They will just have to up their game. Rivalry can be motivating if everyone plays fair.

 

[NaVi]

Inga Gurgenidze changed the surname she competed under(used to be Nikitina) to her father's surname when she started competing for Georgia. Would be kind of funny if Diana did the same thing.

 

[el henry]

Inga Gurgenidze changed the surname she competed under(used to be Nikitina) to her father's surname when she started competing for Georgia. Would be kind of funny if Diana did the same thing.

Wouldn't it make more sense for Diana to change her surname to Tutberidze, if she wanted to stress her Georgian roots as a member of team Georgia, just as Inga did? Or Morris to Morisi as Morisi K. did?

Not that I expect any change.