It makes no sense to me, as I understand it!

Urgent Proposal No. 4
ISU Council
Rule 400
Add new paragraph C. as follows:

If in the program of the Olympic Winter Games a Team Event involving Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance is adopted by the IOC in addition to the existing number of events, the Council in consultation with the IOC shall determine all relevant conditions (number of teams and participants, qualifying, participation, entry criteria, technical format, starting order, result determination, Officials participation and other relevant technical and organizational details).

Reason: To clarify how the details of a Single & Pair Skating/Ice Dance Team Event within the Olympic Winter Games will be determined if accepted by the IOC.

The above team event format as will be tested in the 2012 Youth Olympics, is explained @ http://isu.sportcentric.net/db//files/serve.php?id=1872


If this is the team event format under consideration for the Sochi Games I have the following comments:

Make no mistake this so called trial balloon, as outlined in that ISU .pdf file, is definately not a National Team format. Mixed is just that, with teams comprised by Singles, Pairs and Ice Dance final individual standings; and those finishers placed into groups based upon their placements. Once the Groups are determined, the teams will be formed by a draw of the those groups.

It is my opinion that in setting up this Mixed Team format for the 2012 Youth Olympics, Rogge told Cinquanta that internationally there were not enough Olympic caliber skaters from all the nations to have a fair competition. Therefore to even the playing field a mixed team vice a national team format should be used.

What I don't get is: Olympic Competition has nationalism as it's primary catalyst and the winning athlete or national team's athletes get the Gold and their national anthem is played to honor them and their nation. If you have skaters from different nations on each team, this goes against the whole concept of the Olympics. It just doesn't make sense for me. But what the hell do I know! LOL

Peter Murray - Editor