News outlet Inside The Games as well as the Sports Integrity Initiative reached out to ISU regarding their COVID-safety protocols, and ISU declined to comment. Figure skating news and analysis website Anything GOE also sent queries to ISU and got no answers.
Sports Integrity Initiative points out that ISU were sent a reminder after the publication of the Inside The Games article, which they also chose to ignore. They report, “Neither the ISU nor Stockholm 2021 acknowledged receipt of our questions, let alone answered them. On 16 March, the ISU did issue a communication outlining that medical insurance is the ‘sole obligation of each ISU member’, as already outlined in Rule 119.”
As of March 19, the only response from ISU has been via Instagram regarding concerns from the figure skating community about Team Russia’s exploitation of a loophole pertaining to the number of coaches allowed in each team. Current published regulations stipulate that there is a limit of one coach per singles skater or pairs/ice dance team. However, only two singles skaters from club Sambo-70 are entered in the Championships but the club is sending three coaches. The head of Sambo-70, Renat Laishev, says they are able to do this “because the Sambo-70 school is great”.
It looks as if one Russian pairs team will have two coaches present as well.
Since regulations only mention that the numbers of skaters and coaches per team need to align according to rules, we cannot know if there are more coaches in this team than allowed. Team Russia could have assigned coaches on paper to skaters they do not represent in order to bypass restrictions. Regulations are meant to reduce the number of people in the “bubble”, and therefore the threat of covid transmission.
ISU Media, however, does not seem to have these details, according to their response on Instagram. Their response focused on the fact that the number of coaches at the boards would be strictly enforced, which has puzzled the community since all regulations regarding the number of people allowed within each team in all communications (communication no. 2362 as well as Stockholm Health Regulations) referred to those attending the event, not being at the boards.
According to more reports, two team officials accompany this team, although regulations allow only one. The news report that made this claim also had the following to say: “Russia has shown throughout the season that it is possible to carry out top competitions without custodial measures. True, it was necessary to pay for it with diseases of athletes.”
Sponsor Kose Sekkisei also acknowledged the community’s concern, and expressed that they will be watching the event closely and trust all safety measures are taken.
Canon, another sponsor, responded to fans’ concern as well. They said that it’s up to ISU and the Organizing Committee in Sweden to decide whether the event should be held or cancelled. They also affirmed that they have requested ISU and OC to make sure health measures are thorough, and that they will also notify OC/ISU of fans’ concerns about COVID-19 prevention measures at the competition.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), replied to fans who had reported ISU for violating its Code of Ethics, stating that ‘The information reported is the competence of the International Skating Union’, that ‘It falls under the jurisdiction of this international sport federation’ and that they have no jurisdiction to intervene.
ISU also announced that Crown Princess of Sweden, HRH Victoria, would be opening the World Figure Skating Championships. A few hours later on March 11, it was announced that Princess Victoria had tested positive for COVID and was presenting mild symptoms. She will now participate digitally with a recorded greeting, according to the organizing committee of the Championships.
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