- Joined
- Jun 21, 2003
If you only have 6 countries that bother to compete in your sport because athletes from only 6 countries can get into the top 24, then you do not have an Olympic sport. In order to qualify as an Olympic sport, the sport must be valid in a number of countries.
That's a good point. If the ISU wanted to make major changes to the world championship eligibility, they would have to separate themselves somewhat from the perception that figure skating exists only in relation to the Olympics.
That might not be an entirely bad thing. The sport could go along its merry way and then every four years jump on the Olympic train for a season. There is no reason why the rules for Worlds have to be the same as the rules for the Olympics, which must satisfy IOC requirements.