ISU 2016 Athletes Commission Elections

noskates · Oct 3, 2016

Lysambre said:
Your statement about Russian skaters makes me wonder who is actually "isolated from the world".

Aren't they international competitors who have to do the exact same elements as the other skaters? Who have to follow the same rules? To share the same rinks? To travel to the same countries to participate in the same competitions?

Aren't they human beings perfectly able to think? Why would it be any harder for them to "see both sides of an isssue"?

Oh for heaven's sake. Don't make my comment out to be some nationalistic babble. All of those things you said are true......but I have a feeling the Russian federation, unlike some other federations, keeps tighter reins on their skaters than maybe the US or Canada or some of the other countries do. If I'm wrong - I'm wrong. This is all pure speculation anyway.

daphenaxa · Oct 3, 2016

I think skaters from small skating countries would be more effective and less subject to the big politics of the top3/4 skating countries that are US, CAN and RUS (and JPN but I honestly don't think they politic for their skaters that much lol)

Mango · Oct 3, 2016

Quick question. Prefacing this with a *not to be rude* but how strong do you have to be in comprehending English to be a representative? Asking this because the ISU posts its documents in English, and I know some national federations translate to the languages spoken in their countries. But if someone who doesn't understand or communicate well in English were elected then they would have to keep a translator close by. Might be a hassle for them.

I'd suggest Meagan Duhamel because she overthinks things and breaks everything down. But some may not like that.

Lee Chandler could be the synchro nominee from Canada.

Ideally we'd see the 3 representatives from the three major regions: North America, Europe, and Asia. Likely a North American ice dancer, European synchro skater, and an Asian singles skater. If they do elect someone from pairs though then that may not happen.

cathlen · Oct 4, 2016

Mango said:
Ideally we'd see the 3 representatives from the three major regions: North America, Europe, and Asia. Likely a North American ice dancer, European synchro skater, and an Asian singles skater. If they do elect someone from pairs though then that will not happen.

Don't forget the election concerns also speed and short track skaters (We just don't discuss them here). So possible to have representatives from Asia, Europe or NA not just from Figure Skating Branch, but it may still be balance somehow. Of course, that just theory, but I also hope that overall (5 elections) there will be representatives from each region.

Mango · Oct 4, 2016

cathlen said:
Don't forget the election concerns also speed and short track skaters (We just don't discuss them here). So possible to have representatives from Asia, Europe or NA not just from Figure Skating Branch, but it may still be balance somehow. Of course, that just theory, but I also hope that overall (5 elections) there will be representatives from each region.

I think the power for speed skating lies in different countries than in figure skating. Like Netherlands and South Korea are juggernauts in speed skating, but not exactly in figure skating. Russia and Canada also have some fast skaters, but the figure skaters usually are more popular/get more coverage. I think the ISU will try to go for balance. But I do not believe that we'll really see someone from a smaller nation like Michael Christian Martinez. Though I'd say Misha Ge and Denis Ten have good chances.

Lysambre · Oct 4, 2016

Mango said:
Quick question. Prefacing this with a *not to be rude* but how strong do you have to be in comprehending English to be a representative? Asking this because the ISU posts its documents in English, and I know some national federations translate to the languages spoken in their countries. But if someone who doesn't understand or communicate well in English were elected then they would have to keep a translator close by. Might be a hassle for them.

Any International institutions are well aware that language shouldn't be a barrier. And that's why they have translators for everyone (we have 24 official languages in the EU for example, there is no way every meeting is held in just one language).
I watched a documenary once, about the workings of the European parliament, and that picture of all the translators, in their small cubicles, above everyone else, with the name of the language they were each translating, that was an amazing picture.

I've hear the former ISU president try to make a speech in English, for the Barcelona 2015 GPF, and I have massive doubts that he could have gone through all these meetings without a translator constantly speaking into his ear. There was no way his grasp of the English language was sufficient. And I'm not saying that to be insulting, just to state that if only a small speech was near incomprehensible, then having to understand full meetings in English, would have been pretty much impossible.

So we can definitely assume that if the main representatives of the ISU don't have to master the language, then the athletes don't have to master it either :agree:

Biellmann · Oct 4, 2016

lyndichee said:
To be honest, I think older athletes and more experienced athletes should be elected. Not to say younger athletes don't have good input, but I feel like people who have been around longer likely have a more diverse perspective and a lot more challenges.

For example, I would love to see someone like Aliona Savchenko get nominated. She has competed in both the 6.0 system and COP, switched federations, had funding issues, multiple partners, 3 Olympics and 9 world medals. Both federations she has been apart of are small which she can bring attention to ISU so that athletes from around the world can receive more supports. She seems well-liked amongst her competitors, respected and optimistic. She is also a very creative skater who can bring an interesting perspective to the PCS scores. On the other hand, while Maxim Trankov has had an even more successful career, yet I find sometimes he can't be diplomatic or objective about his criticism of his competitors. I love his skating but I would not want him nominated.

I also believe another good candidate for the pairs/singles would be Denis Ten. He is doing his MBA already and I believe people with business/organization studies are likely better at communicating ideas and being diplomatic. He has been to Olympics, Worlds, helped an Olympic bid and trains internationally. I think men's figure skating is a hot topic due to quads and I think having a men's single skater on the committee would bring good insights to ISU.

On the other hand, I am not too sure about Ice Dance as each dance team seems to have unique experiences and different struggles during their careers.

:disagree: Do you really support bad sportsmanship? :disagree: :disapp:
He still owes a few apologies

Mango · Oct 4, 2016

Lysambre said:
Any International institutions are well aware that language shouldn't be a barrier. And that's why they have translators for everyone (we have 24 official languages in the EU for example, there is no way every meeting is held in just one language).
I watched a documenary once, about the workings of the European parliament, and that picture of all the translators, in their small cubicles, above everyone else, with the name of the language they were each translating, that was an amazing picture.

I've hear the former ISU president try to make a speech in English, for the Barcelona 2015 GPF, and I have massive doubts that he could have gone through all these meetings without a translator constantly speaking into his ear. There was no way his grasp of the English language was sufficient. And I'm not saying that to be insulting, just to state that if only a small speech was near incomprehensible, then having to understand full meetings in English, would have been pretty much impossible.

So we can definitely assume that if the main representatives of the ISU don't have to master the language, then the athletes don't have to master it either :agree:

You see the president could be that way without a many problems because he's got support staff. He may very well have had a dedicated translator. An ambassador is a different thing altogether. You need to be able to talk to various people openly and even privately, if need be. You aren't an executive/admin person like the president, or a guy who makes a speech every two years. You are the face of the group you represent. You would have to have a team of translators then, to go between the different languages spoken by the athletes and the language you speak. I know the EU can do it, but I think the ISU is a bit cheap and may not allocate such resources for one ambassador unless they were someone really special. :confused2: Just my 2 cents.

Mathman · Oct 4, 2016

I can't find the exact ISU document at the moment, but I am pretty sure that "a working knowledge of English" is a requirement for ISU judges, technical specialists, referees, data operators, etc. If a prospective judge shows up at a judging seminar and is found not to satisfy this requirement, then the ISU will not reimburse that judges' travel expenses. :rolleye:

It is not clear what constitutes a "working knowledge."

lyndichee · Oct 5, 2016

Biellmann said:
:disagree: Do you really support bad sportsmanship? :disagree: :disapp:
He still owes a few apologies

If you are referencing issues with Yuzuru Hanyu, I ask you to please inform yourself about both sides. They did apologize to each other and the media blew the situation out of proportion. Did everyone miss Denis Ten posting a photo of them on Instagram smiling together asking people to stop making assumptions? Denis Ten has been very supportive of his fellow skaters and has organized an ice show for Kazakhstan. Yuzuru even commented that regardless of what was happening, he should not have let those feelings get to him. If Yuzu is over it, why should fans continue to paint him in a negative light?

euroskate · Oct 5, 2016

Mathman said:
I can't find the exact ISU document at the moment, but I am pretty sure that "a working knowledge of English" is a requirement for ISU judges, technical specialists, referees, data operators, etc. If a prospective judge shows up at a judging seminar and is found not to satisfy this requirement, then the ISU will not reimburse that judges' travel expenses.

It is not clear what constitutes a "working knowledge."

working knowlege means that you are able to follow Meetings and to formulate your thoughts. it is not necessary to do it gramaticarly correct or without accent

euroskate · Oct 5, 2016

i guess federations are choosing someone who is NOT running for medals at the next olympics. so a skater who is more in the "mix". and yes i also think it should be a "grown up" with the ability to speak up and a athlete the others consider beeing a role modle. at the ISU congress there were already some active Skaters pushing the idea of atthletes commussion. also some federation also have athletes in some fuctions and These would be a good choice. somebody who is Aware of how the politics work.

Interspectator · Oct 5, 2016

Oda! I'd nominate him for everything.

cathlen · Oct 5, 2016

Interspectator said:
Oda! I'd nominate him for everything.

He would definitely make ISU board meetenigs much more fun :biggrin:

I just thought how great choice Akiko Suzuki would be! She's a wise woman and she has my neverending respect on bringing up a topic about body issues. She would definitely be a great addition to a board (as an inactive skater she may vote!).

cathlen · Dec 28, 2016

http://tallshipandstar.tumblr.com/post/155012537791/who-here-is-surprised-i-actually-think-theyd
So Misha Ge (not suprising) & Kaitlyn Weaver applied for their candidature

IIRC we will know full list of candidates in January, I'm really curious who is chosen in the bigger federations, especially since it can be already retired skaters (within last seasons) :coffee:

RemyRose · Dec 28, 2016

Russia already submitted applications for Voronov, Klimov, and Sotnikova. There apparently was a 3 way tie between them according to Ari Z.

karne · Dec 28, 2016

Oh god, can you imagine if Sotnikova was chosen? I think she'd be good, but I can just see it now... :palmf:

cathlen · Dec 29, 2016

RemyRose said:
Russia already submitted applications for Voronov, Klimov, and Sotnikova. There apparently was a 3 way tie between them according to Ari Z.

What about Ice Dance? The document says there should be one candidate from Single&Pair Skating and another from Ice Dance. Instead they named 3 from first category and none from second?

Or maybe it is internal Athlete Comission?

silverfoxes · Dec 29, 2016

RemyRose said:
Russia already submitted applications for Voronov, Klimov, and Sotnikova. There apparently was a 3 way tie between them according to Ari Z.

I thought they were just named to the internal athletes' commission for FFKKR? Or does everyone in that commission automatically get submitted for the ISU commission too?

yuzushenko · Dec 30, 2016

im new to this..what does an ISU athlete representative do?

i would love patrick chan to speak up about ice conditions. someone who represents others shouldn't be timid and hold back on suggestions. a lot of times people just attend meetings for school representative stuff and then they never offer any suggestions or demands, it's always just there to serve self and be a part of the administrative circle. but patrick seems like he would have enough bones to pick to suggest things that need work

and perhaps he could even advocate for more artistic value (although that will definitely appear biased so perhaps not). though to be fair his biggest rivals are artistic as well so it's not necessarily that biased (yuzuru, javi, shoma)

i like misha too

what is this vote for though

ISU 2016 Athletes Commission Elections

noskates

daphenaxa

Mango

Royal Chinet 👑🍽️

cathlen

Team Gorgeous Cacti!

Mango

Royal Chinet 👑🍽️

Lysambre

Biellmann

Match Penalty

Mango

Royal Chinet 👑🍽️

Mathman

lyndichee

euroskate

euroskate

Interspectator

cathlen

Team Gorgeous Cacti!

cathlen

Team Gorgeous Cacti!

RemyRose

YOLO

karne

in Emergency Backup Mode

cathlen

Team Gorgeous Cacti!

silverfoxes

yuzushenko

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