There is nothing worse than uncertainty. The coronavirus has paused many sports events. The skaters waited the longest. But they were only allowed to start training, and there was no talk of tournaments - zero specifics.
And on August 4, the International Skating Union finally shed light on the 2020 season. Alexey "Professor" Mishin has already managed to compare the ISU solution with the appearance of the sun in the sky of figure skating.
The Grand Prix series will officially take place. The fans were deprived of the opportunity to see the confrontation between Kamila Valieva and Alisa Liu in the Grand Prix series among juniors. But then they gave the opportunity to contemplate adult athletes. So when can we expect the defense of the title by Alena Kostornaya, the only Russian winner in the GP Final last season?
There are still six stages in the calendar:
Skate America (USA, Las Vegas, October 23 - October 25);
Skate Canada (Canada, Ottawa, October 30 - November 1);
Cup of China (China, undefined city, November 6 - November 8);
Internationaux de France (France, undefined city, November 13 - November 15);
Rostelecom Cup (Russia, Moscow, November 20 - November 22);
NHK Trophy (Japan, undefined city, November 27 - November 29).
The final is due to take place on December 13 in China, but the timing may be postponed.
The Grand Prix series this year will not be what figure skating fans are used to. If earlier each athlete participated in two competitions of his own (coach, Federation) choice, now everything will be limited to only one start. And with a high degree of probability, Alena Kostornaya, like other Russian women, we will see at the end of November in Moscow at the Rostelecom Cup.
In fact, ISU decided to turn the Grand Prix series into open national championships. All skaters will be divided into three categories: first - athletes who live in the countries where the stages will be held; second, those who train in these countries; third - those who can come to the start, including observing the quarantine rules.
Explaining with the example of women's single skating. Russians Alina Zagitova, Alena Kostornaya, Anna Shcherbakova, Alexandra Trusova and Elizaveta Tuktamysheva belong to both the first and second categories. They can participate in the Russian Grand Prix. And, for example, Evgenia Medvedeva is a different story. Now she belongs to the second category, as she trains in Russia, but the previous two years she lived and trained in Canada. Therefore, if Evgenia refuses to switch to Evgeni Plushenko and still remains with Orser, then she can compete not at the Russian Grand Prix, but at the Canadian Grand Prix.
Theoretically, conditional Zagitova and Kostornaya may not want to compete at the Russian Open Championship. But for this they will need to apply for the third category. If the borders are opened, then for the second year in a row, Russian women can go to France (the geographical principle from the ISU communique), subject to all epidemiological standards. Do they need it? Only if there are some psychological problems. For example, Alena wants to delay her crossings in official competitions with Eteri Tutberidze's group as much as possible.
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The representative of Azerbaijan Yekaterina Ryabova is training in Russia, so we will certainly see her at the Rostelecom Cup. The Kazakh woman Elizabeth Tursynbaeva will also be at the Moscow stage if she improves her health. We are waiting for the Finnish woman Amy Peltonen, who lives nearby. Although the last place in last year's tournament may discourage her from the capital of Russia in favor of that of France.
In general, it is clear that nothing is clear. It's just the beginning of August. By the end of October, the situation in the world may change dramatically. Now a special working group is developing the competition regulations, as well as criteria and restrictions for participants, the size of the prize money and the conditions for getting into the Grand Prix Final. Apparently, in order to get to China, it will be necessary not only to take the first places, but also with the best possible scores. It is not excluded that the final six will be expanded.
The prestige of the tournament is undoubtedly being leveled as much as possible. Grand Prix results will not be included in the ISU World Ranking, and the scores shown by skaters in competition will not count as the technical minimum for ISU-sponsored championships.
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But at the moment, the very fact of any start is important. After the cancellation of the 2020 World Cup and various shows, figure skaters yearned for ice and tournaments. No one will refuse the opportunity to test their strength on the eve of the national championship.
The fans will definitely be in favor with both hands. The level of the Russian championships is already superior to the same European championships. And this season we get the opportunity to see two or even three tournaments with our best skaters: the Czech Republic, the Grand Prix stage and the final of the Russian Cup.