If a sponsor set up a new figure skating event , would it be legal | Golden Skate

If a sponsor set up a new figure skating event , would it be legal

enlight78

Medalist
Joined
Nov 2, 2005
Let say I have billions of dollars and decided to host an event after worlds that invited the top 24 ranked skaters in each discipline no matter what age to compete for reasonable prize money. Could they participate without being punish by the feds or isu? Would fans be interested in seeing such an event?
If it were legal would skaters even bother with it?
 

gkelly

Record Breaker
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
It would have to be sanctioned by the ISU and use rules and officials that were acceptable to them. I suspect that if they got a nice chunk of sponsorship money they would be happy to work something out.

I would also guess that you could get some decent participation from the invited skaters but not all of them. Those who were less than healthy at the end of the season and needed to recover, those who were behind in educational or other commitments they needed to catch up with, and those who had better money-making opportunities elsewhere (e.g., tours) would probably pass on the opportunity.
 

PolymerBob

Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 17, 2007
They would have to negotiate rules with the ISU. Maybe the sponsors want to allow vocals, tights on the men, 2-piece outfits on the ladies, etc. The money paid would have to balance out the deviations from the normal rules.
Also, it would have to be worth the skaters' time. As we say in America, "Money talks". :biggrin:
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
They would have to negotiate rules with the ISU. Maybe the sponsors want to allow vocals, tights on the men, 2-piece outfits on the ladies, etc. The money paid would have to balance out the deviations from the normal rules.

Also, it would have to be worth the skaters' time. As we say in America, "Money talks".
So far, money has not talked much to the ISU. They have been quite consistent in insisting that every ISU sanctioned competition follow ISU rules, regardless of the wish of the sponsor. This stance killed off the once-lucrative pro-am competitions, for instance.

Still...if the premise is that a billionaire wanted to give all his money away...
 

attyfan

Custom Title
Medalist
Joined
Mar 1, 2004
So far, money has not talked much to the ISU. They have been quite consistent in insisting that every ISU sanctioned competition follow ISU rules, regardless of the wish of the sponsor. This stance killed off the once-lucrative pro-am competitions, for instance.
...

But now that so many other funding sources (TV rights, etc.) have dried up, maybe the ISU would reconsider. After all, there have been the "Skating Idol" type cheesefests that have not caused any trouble.
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
After all, there have been the "Skating Idol" type cheesefests that have not caused any trouble.
On the contrary, Speedy had conniption fits over these Skating with the Stars and phone-in the votes shows. He issued the infamous Communication #1416

http://isu.sportcentric.net/db//files/serve.php?id=438

threatening that if skaters so much as served as celebrity judges for such events, and they did not follow ISU rules for competitions, then the skaters would be kicked out of the Olympics, etc., etc.
 
Joined
Jul 11, 2003
On the contrary, Speedy had conniption fits over these Skating with the Stars and phone-in the votes shows. He issued the infamous Communication #1416

http://isu.sportcentric.net/db//files/serve.php?id=438

threatening that if skaters so much as served as celebrity judges for such events, and they did not follow ISU rules for competitions, then the skaters would be kicked out of the Olympics, etc., etc.
Apparently Skating with Stars does well in Russia. :confused:

Joe
 
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Apparently Skating with Stars does well in Russia. :confused:
Maybe they got around the ISU by the loophole in paragraph 3, item (ii) -- if all the participants are from the same country, then it does not fall under the rules for an "International ISU competition." In this case only the Russian federation has to give its approval.

But even this is frowned upon "as a matter of principle" in the last paragraph of the ISU Communication.

I am not really sure if the powers that be are willing to look the other way in exchange for recompense from the promoters. Slutskaya and Plushenko are two prominent skaters who are involved in these shows. I don't know whether the ISU or the Russian Federation gave them any grief about it or not (or whether these skaters care, at this stage of their careers.)
 

PolymerBob

Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 17, 2007
On the contrary, Speedy had conniption fits over these Skating with the Stars and phone-in the votes shows. He issued the infamous Communication #1416

http://isu.sportcentric.net/db//files/serve.php?id=438

threatening that if skaters so much as served as celebrity judges for such events, and they did not follow ISU rules for competitions, then the skaters would be kicked out of the Olympics, etc., etc.

If the ISU had gotten a cut, I'm sure this guy everyone calls "Speedy" would not have minded a bit.
 

waxel

Final Flight
Joined
Jun 18, 2005
If you had a billion dollars you could offer considerable prize money to get the top 24 from worlds. Say you offered 100K just to enter. Then 1 million for Bronze, 2 Million for Silver and 5 million for Gold. Bet all 24 would say eligibility shmeligibility so fast it'd make Speedy's wig fly off!
 
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