List of Candidates for ISU President Grows

visaliakid · Apr 11, 2016

Jan Dijkema, 2nd Vice President – Speed Skating Announces Candidacy for ISU President

Here's the text of the email sent to ISU Member Representatives shortly before 1 pm ET today...

From: Jan Dijkema <[email protected]>

Subject: ISU presidential candidate

Date: April 11, 2016 at 12:49:58 PM EDT

Dear Skating Friends,

Herewith I would like to announce my candidacy for the position of ISU President. The ISU has been my home and passion for many years. My love of skating has motivated me to work hard for the ISU family and stakeholders to promote and develop the sport worldwide. I am excited for the future of figure skating, short track speed skating and speed skating on all its levels. I hope that I may continue showing my leadership.

As ISU President, the key themes of Inspiration & Innovation would be central throughout my tenure. I hope to inspire the skating community, helping to innovate and evolve the ISU and Member Federations, while never forgetting the solid foundation that has already been laid. Guided by these principles, I will focus on three strategic pillars:
• Marketing, Promotion & Digitalization
• Development
• Good Governance

Please see attached my manifesto which clearly describes the objectives and strategies that I would employ.
http://www.schaatsen.nl/media/21844/isu-manifesto-jan-dijkema.pdf

We all have an important role to play – whether Member, Office Holder, Athlete, Official, Coach or Partner.

Together we can build on the hard work of the last years and carve a strong future for skating and the ISU.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Jan Dijkema

Voorbehoud KNSB:

visaliakid · Apr 11, 2016

This brings the total number of announced candidates to replace Cinquanta to four. Deadline for official announcements in April 25.

Sam-Skwantch · Apr 11, 2016

I'm not seeing his position on anonymous judging although he does seem to think transparency in governing is a good thing?

It would be cool to have an ISU app on your phone with 3D shots of every skating maneuver though. How about you throw in a live stream too

dorispulaski · Apr 12, 2016

I am glad to see someone interested in actually marketing the skating sports.

sarama · Apr 12, 2016

Honestly I think an ISU president that doesn't come from the figure skating world is better, simply because it won't create as many conspiracy theories. :scard8:

jenaj · Apr 12, 2016

sarama said:
Honestly I think an ISU president that doesn't come from the figure skating world is better, simply because it won't create as many conspiracy theories. :scard8:[/QUOTE

I think it would be better to have someone from figure skating as long as it isn't Didier.

Winnie_20 · Apr 12, 2016

All I read and hear in Dutch news is speed skating, speed skating, speed skating. I have no illusions that bringing in a Dutch ISU president is going to change anything for the better in that regard, in fact, I only expect it to get even worse. :drama:

Especially the part about "the organization of a big event once every four years where all ISU disciplines meet" I am not at all in favor of. We have this in Equestrianism, i.e. once every four years the WEG World Equestrian Games = World Championships. And that's it. You have the Olympics, and two years later, the big Worlds event (figure skating together with speed skating, short track etc., yikes), and the two gap years are filled with European championships, but to me it just sounds like they want to get rid of three World championships out of every four-year cycle. It's not there literally, but... I have a very bad feeling about this.

caitie · Apr 12, 2016

What about Chrisropher Buchanan? I don't know much about him besides the fact that he is a technical specialist for dance, but he sounds better than another speed skater or Didier. I was thinking that his involvement in accusing Sergei Ponomarenko of a judging violation many years ago might make it hard for him to be elected, though. Russia probably won't like it...

Précision · Apr 12, 2016

caitie said:
What about Chrisropher Buchanan? I don't know much about him besides the fact that he is a technical specialist for dance, but he sounds better than another speed skater or Didier. I was thinking that his involvement in accusing Sergei Ponomarenko of a judging violation many years ago might make it hard for him to be elected, though. Russia probably won't like it...

Buchanan is also the chairman of Synchronized Skating Technical Committee.

Mathman · Apr 12, 2016

sarama said:
Honestly I think an ISU president that doesn't come from the figure skating world is better, simply because it won't create as many conspiracy theories. :scard8:

The outgoing president, Mr. Cinquanta, came from the speed skating side. There were charges of sneaky parliamentary maneuvering to shut out the figure skating representative, Sonia Bianchetti, from getting her name on the ballot.

One of the criticisms of Cinquanta's presidency is that he regarded figure skating as the cash cow that kept his babies, short track and speed skating, afloat financially. The ill-fated World Skating Federation movement was an attempt by figure skaters to escape this situation.

sarama · Apr 12, 2016

Mathman said:
The outgoing president, Mr. Cinquanta, came from the speed skating side. There were charges of sneaky parliamentary maneuvering to shut out the figure skating representative, Sonia Bianchetti, from getting her name on the ballot.

One of the criticisms of Cinquanta's presidency is that he regarded figure skating as the cash cow that kept his babies, short track and speed skating, afloat financially. The ill-fated World Skating Federation movement was an attempt by figure skaters to escape this situation.

I know almost nothing about how the ISU works, and I know Cinquanta never cared much about figure skating, but I would assume the ISU is not a dictatorship so I wouldn't blame him for every bad decision! And of course it would be wonderful to have an ISU president from the figure skating world, but I think it would be very hard to maintain neutrality on many decisions

anyanka · Apr 12, 2016

I want to see Tatiana Tarasova as the ISU president.

Mathman · Apr 12, 2016

sarama said:
I would assume the ISU is not a dictatorship...

I think that it has become more so over the twenty years of Mr. Cinquanta's leadership. The ISU Constitution called for an election two years ago (2014), and Cinquanta was not eligible to run due to age. So he just suspended that part of the constitution, cancelled the election, and announced that he would continue as President for two more years. His rationale was that no one but he was qualified to guide the organization into the next Olympiad.

jenaj · Apr 12, 2016

sarama said:
I know almost nothing about how the ISU works, and I know Cinquanta never cared much about figure skating, but I would assume the ISU is not a dictatorship so I wouldn't blame him for every bad decision! And of course it would be wonderful to have an ISU president from the figure skating world, but I think it would be very hard to maintain neutrality on many decisions

It is like a dictatorship in the sense that Speedy pretty much has gotten a rubber stamp on whatever he has wanted. Why hasn't anyone else from the figure skating world stepped up to run? Is Didier really the best the sport can do?

sarama · Apr 12, 2016

Mathman said:
I think that it has become more so over the twenty years of Mr. Cinquanta's leadership. The ISU Constitution called for an election two years ago (2014), and Cinquanta was not eligible to run due to age. So he just suspended that part of the constitution, cancelled the election, and announced that he would continue as President for two more years. His rationale was that no one but he was qualified to guide the organization into the next Olympiad.

I think you got the point there! Why and how on earth was he allowed to stay president for 20 years

jenaj said:
Why hasn't anyone else from the figure skating world stepped up to run?

Good question, maybe they are all afraid of Gailhaguet:scratch3:

visaliakid · Apr 12, 2016

Mathman said:
I think that it has become more so over the twenty years of Mr. Cinquanta's leadership. The ISU Constitution called for an election two years ago (2014), and Cinquanta was not eligible to run due to age. So he just suspended that part of the constitution, cancelled the election, and announced that he would continue as President for two more years. His rationale was that no one but he was qualified to guide the organization into the next Olympiad.

Cinquanta got a majority of the ISU Council to agree to back a vote in the full Congress to suspend the Age rule so the congress could approve a two year extension saying he was best qualified to guide the organization into the next Olympiad. This was a bogus excuse. His real intention in extending his ISU leadership was to not lose his seat on the IOC Council to which he currently is a member.

Mathman · Apr 12, 2016

sarama said:
I think you got the point there! Why and how on earth was he allowed to stay president for 20 years

One reason is that the ISU, like many organizations associated with amateur sporting events, has always been run as a sort of "old boys club." You get in, you serve until you are tired of it (or die).

By the way, the previous president,Olaf Paulson, was also from the speedskating side. He served for 14 years before retiring and pushing his portage, Cinquanta, through to the top spot. The details of all these shenanigans are recounted in luscious detail in Sonia Bianchetti's book, Cracked Ice. A caveat, though, Mrs. Bianchetti has her own point of view. She was a big fan of the guy before that, former ISU President Jacques Lavart, a French singles and pairs figure skater whom Bianchetti regarded as an honest man in a den of thieves and scoundrels. (Cinquanta managed to expel Mrs. Cinquanta from the ISU in 2002.)

More favorably to Mr. Cinquanta, though, he was well regarded in the first few years of his Presidency. He had a reputation as someone who knew the business side of sport well. The first thing he did was negotiate a big contract with (US) ABC television, to the tune of something like US$ 12,00,000 a year IIRC. He was given credit as a promoter who propelled the sport into a period of unparalleled popularity (or at least, he presided over such a period in the mid to late 1990s). He pushed through the CoP judging system. (Yay.) He tried to bring all of figure skating under the ISU umbrella. (Yay.) As Visalia Pete mentions above, he represented skating on the IOC for many years. (Yay.)

...maybe they are all afraid of Gailhaguet :scratch3:

Yes, I think they are.

The reason everyone is afraid of Gailhaguet is that Gailhaguet is going to be the next ISU president, so everyone who doesn't get in line now will be in big trouble after Gailhaguet assumes the presidency. (No plum ISU committee appointment for you!. And no gold medal for your federation, either!

)

KKonas · Apr 13, 2016

visaliakid said:
Jan Dijkema, 2nd Vice President – Speed Skating Announces Candidacy for ISU President

Here's the text of the email sent to ISU Member Representatives shortly before 1 pm ET today...

From: Jan Dijkema <[email protected]>

Subject: ISU presidential candidate

Date: April 11, 2016 at 12:49:58 PM EDT

Dear Skating Friends,

Herewith I would like to announce my candidacy for the position of ISU President. The ISU has been my home and passion for many years. My love of skating has motivated me to work hard for the ISU family and stakeholders to promote and develop the sport worldwide. I am excited for the future of figure skating, short track speed skating and speed skating on all its levels. I hope that I may continue showing my leadership.

As ISU President, the key themes of Inspiration & Innovation would be central throughout my tenure. I hope to inspire the skating community, helping to innovate and evolve the ISU and Member Federations, while never forgetting the solid foundation that has already been laid. Guided by these principles, I will focus on three strategic pillars:
• Marketing, Promotion & Digitalization
• Development
• Good Governance

Please see attached my manifesto which clearly describes the objectives and strategies that I would employ.
http://www.schaatsen.nl/media/21844/isu-manifesto-jan-dijkema.pdf

We all have an important role to play – whether Member, Office Holder, Athlete, Official, Coach or Partner.

Together we can build on the hard work of the last years and carve a strong future for skating and the ISU.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Jan Dijkema

Voorbehoud KNSB:

Am hearing that Dijkema is a more popular choice over Didier within the general electorate. However, we don't know if Didier can somehow finagle a win. Also heard that former USFSA president Pat St. Peter may run for ISU Council if Phyllis Howard retires.

Tolstoj · Apr 13, 2016

Implementing a fan-centric digital strategy:...For
example, increase audience attention and interest by helping the fan to visualise interesting
data (e.g. GPS tracking during short track and speed skating or 3D animations of fi gure
skating moves) and encouraging engagement (e.g. through quizzes, games, and voting)

After what happened to TCC, please NO! :angry1:

KKonas said:
Am hearing that Dijkema is a more popular choice over Didier within the general electorate. However, we don't know if Didier can somehow finagle a win. Also heard that former USFSA president Pat St. Peter may run for ISU Council if Phyllis Howard retires.

Everyone is a more popular choice over Didier.

andromache · Apr 13, 2016

Mathman said:
One reason is that the ISU, like many organizations associated with amateur sporting events, has always been run as a sort of "old boys club." You get in, you serve until you are tired of it (or die).

By the way, the previous president,Olaf Paulson, was also from the speedskating side. He served for 14 years before retiring and pushing his portage, Cinquanta, through to the top spot. The details of all these shenanigans are recounted in luscious detail in Sonia Bianchetti's book, Cracked Ice. A caveat, though, Mrs. Bianchetti has her own point of view. She was a big fan of the guy before that, former ISU President Jacques Lavart, a French singles and pairs figure skater whom Bianchetti regarded as an honest man in a den of thieves and scoundrels. (Cinquanta managed to expel Mrs. Cinquanta from the ISU in 2002.)

More favorably to Mr. Cinquanta, though, he was well regarded in the first few years of his Presidency. He had a reputation as someone who knew the business side of sport well. The first thing he did was negotiate a big contract with (US) ABC television, to the tune of something like US$ 12,00,000 a year IIRC. He was given credit as a promoter who propelled the sport into a period of unparalleled popularity (or at least, he presided over such a period in the mid to late 1990s). He pushed through the CoP judging system. (Yay.) He tried to bring all of figure skating under the ISU umbrella. (Yay.) As Visalia Pete mentions above, he represented skating on the IOC for many years. (Yay.)

If Ottavio became ISU president in 1994, could he be the one responsible for the Nancy/Tonya drama?? It certainly seems like he was able to capitalize on it....

Conspiracy theory time.

List of Candidates for ISU President Grows

visaliakid

visaliakid

Sam-Skwantch

“I solemnly swear I’m up to no good”

dorispulaski

Wicked Yankee Girl

sarama

jenaj

Winnie_20

caitie

Précision

Mathman

sarama

anyanka

Mathman

jenaj

sarama

visaliakid

Mathman

KKonas

Tolstoj

andromache

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