2020–21 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating explained
The 2020–21 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating was a series of senior international competitions organized by the International Skating Union that were held from October 2020 through December 2020. Medals were awarded in men's singles, ladies's singles, pair skating, and ice dance. Before modifications resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, skaters would have earned points based on their placement at each event and the top six in each discipline would have qualified to compete at the Grand Prix Final in Beijing, China. Because of the pandemic, only four of the six events were held, while the Grand Prix Final also ultimately cancelled. The corresponding series for junior-level skaters would have been the 2020–21 ISU Junior Grand Prix, but the ISU announced its cancellation in July 2020.[1]
Reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic
On May 1, 2020, the International Skating Union established a working group, chaired by ISU Vice-president for Figure Skating Alexander Lakernik, to monitor the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Its responsibilities included determining the feasibility of holding events as scheduled, possibly behind closed doors, during the first half of the season, and the financial impact of any potential cancellations.[2] The ISU announced that a host federation must make a decision regarding potential cancellation of their event at least twelve weeks prior to the event.[3]
On July 9, the General Administration of Sport of China announced that no international sporting events would be held in China in 2020 except for 2022 Winter Olympics test events.[4] The Chinese Skating Association was scheduled to host several events during the season, including the Cup of China, the Grand Prix Final, and the World Junior Championships. While the Grand Prix Final, scheduled to be hosted in Beijing, was exempt from the Chinese government's ruling due to its status as the test event for the Olympic Games, the ISU had not yet discussed a contingency plan regarding Grand Prix event cancellations at the time of the Chinese government's announcement.[5] The ISU announced on July 13 that the Cup of China would remain as scheduled in Chongqing due to its connection to the Beijing test event: the Grand Prix Final.[6]
On August 4, the ISU confirmed that the Grand Prix series would proceed as scheduled during the fall, with a decision to be made regarding the Grand Prix Final at a later date.[7] The competitions were expected to feature skaters from the home country, skaters already training in the host nation, and skaters assigned to that event for geographic reasons; all officials would also be from the national organizing committee.[8]
On September 25, U.S. Figure Skating announced that Skate America would be held without an audience in line with Nevada Gaming Control Board guidelines regarding the pandemic.[9]
On September 30, the ISU announced that the Grand Prix Final would not be held as scheduled in Beijing on December 10–13, and that they were searching for an alternate host outside China for the event.[10] On October 14, Skate Canada announced the cancellation of the 2020 Skate Canada International due to the worsening situation in Ontario.[11] The French Federation of Ice Sports informed the ISU of the cancellation of the 2020 Internationaux de France on October 19.[12]
On November 13, a joint adapted sports testing program developed by the Beijing 2022 planning committee, the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, and various winter sports federations, including the ISU, replaced all test events scheduled in Beijing. Despite the ongoing pandemic, the ISU announced that it would evaluate the possibility of finding alternative locations outside China and dates to replace the Grand Prix Final.
On December 10, the ISU announced the definitive cancellation of the Grand Prix Final alongside the cancellation of the 2021 European Championships.[13]
The domestic nature of the competitions meant that no ISU World Standing/Ranking points would be awarded to skaters and that scores received would not count for minimum TES requirements for ISU Championship competitions.[14]
Schedule
On October 14, Skate Canada announced the cancellation of the 2020 Skate Canada International, while the French Federation of Ice Sports announced the cancellation of the 2020 Internationaux de France on October 19.
The series included the following events:
Requirements
Skaters were eligible to compete on the senior Grand Prix circuit if they had reached the age of 15 before July 1, 2020. Due to the modified format, skaters were not required to have earned a minimum total score from certain international events.
Assignments
As part of the ISU's efforts to mitigate the risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, skaters were limited to one assignment each.[19] Assignments were released on October 1, 2020.[20]
Men's singles
Ladies' singles
Pairs
Ice dance
Changes to preliminary assignments
Skate America
Cup of China
Rostelecom Cup
NHK Trophy
Medal summary
Medal standings
The competitions were largely domestic events due to the pandemic, leading to skaters from the home country dominating the medals table at each respective event.
Top scores
The scores awarded on the 2020–21 Grand Prix did not count for minimum TES requirements for the ISU Championships and did not count as official personal bests, season's bests, or world records.[14] [57]
Men's singles
Ladies' singles
Pairs
Ice dance
Notes and References
- Web site: ISU Junior Grand Prix Series 2020/21 cancelled. International Skating Union. July 20, 2020.
- Web site: ISU creates COVID-19 working group for figure skating. Liam. Morgan. Inside the Games. May 1, 2020.
- Web site: Communication No. 2320: Decisions of the Council. International Skating Union. April 30, 2020.
- Web site: No international sport events in China this year except for Beijing 2022 trials. https://web.archive.org/web/20200709160119/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-07/09/c_139200356.htm. dead. July 9, 2020. huaxia. Xinhua News Agency. July 9, 2020.
- Web site: Финал Гран-при по фигурному катанию не попадает под запрет о проведении турниров в Китае. Figure skating Grand Prix Final does not fall under ban on tournaments in China. Russian. Vladislav. Zhukov. TASS. July 9, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Events scheduled to be held in China in 2020. International Skating Union. July 13, 2020.
- Web site: Figure skating: ISU Grand Prix series to go ahead as planned in fall. Kyodo News. August 4, 2020.
- Web site: Grand Prix figure skating series downsized to localized events. The Associated Press. CBC. August 4, 2020.
- Web site: Skate America to be held without fans in Las Vegas. Associated Press. ESPN. September 25, 2020.
- Web site: Cancellation / Postponement of ISU Events season 2020/21. International Skating Union. September 30, 2020.
- Web site: Cancelled: 2020 Skate Canada International. Skate Canada. October 14, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating – Internationaux de France cancelled. International Skating Union. October 19, 2020.
- Web site: Update on ISU Event Calendar season 2020/21. International Skating Union. December 10, 2020.
- Web site: Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21 Announcement. International Skating Union.
- Web site: October 22, 2020 . ISU GP 2020 Guaranteed Rate Skate America . November 24, 2023 . U.S. Figure Skating.
- Web site: November 7, 2020 . ISU GP SHISEIDO Cup of China 2020 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20201201121634/http://119.84.133.13:8090/html/index.htm . December 1, 2020 . November 24, 2023.
- Web site: November 21, 2020 . ISU GP Rostelecom Cup 2020 . November 24, 2023 . fsrussia.ru.
- Web site: November 28, 2020 . ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21, NHK Trophy . November 24, 2023 . www.isuresults.com.
- Web site: Figure skating Grand Prix Series will be held as 'domestic' competitions. NBC Sports. August 4, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21 assignments announced. International Skating Union. October 1, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Pairs . October 5, 2020 . International Skating Union.
- Web site: One Canadian skater headed to Las Vegas for 2020 Skate America. Skate Canada. October 19, 2020. Stephen Gogolev was scheduled to compete but had to withdraw due to injury.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Men. International Skating Union. October 7, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Ladies. International Skating Union. October 7, 2020.
- Web site: Траньков: Тарасова и Морозов пропустят серию Гран-при. Trankov: Tarasova and Morozov will miss the Grand Prix series. Russian. Vasily. Konov Jr.. RIA Novosti. October 8, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Pairs. October 13, 2020 . .
- Web site: Michal Březina se, bohužel, letošního American Grand Prix, která se koná v Las Vegas 23.-25. října, neúčastní. Důvodem jsou problémy se zády.. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CGVSi2NKYTz . 2021-12-24 . limited. Michal Březina, unfortunately, will not participate in this year's American Grand Prix, which takes place in Las Vegas on 23–25 October. The reason is back problems.. Czech. Czech Figure Skating Association. October 14, 2020.
- Web site: Madison Chock and Evan Bates Withdraw from 2020 Skate America. U.S. Figure Skating. October 9, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Ice Dance. International Skating Union. October 9, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Ladies. October 12, 2020 . .
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Men. International Skating Union. October 16, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Ladies. International Skating Union. October 16, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Ice Dance. International Skating Union. October 16, 2020.
- Web site:
- 花滑中国杯# 两个新消息：
. - CupofChina# Two New Updates
. Chinese. SHISEIDO Cup of China. Weibo. October 29, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Pairs. International Skating Union. October 29, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Men. International Skating Union. October 9, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Ladies. International Skating Union. October 9, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Pairs. International Skating Union. October 9, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Men. International Skating Union. November 12, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Ice Dance. International Skating Union. October 28, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Ladies. International Skating Union. October 28, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Ice Dance. International Skating Union. November 4, 2020.
- Web site: Ermolina. Olga. Казань принимает четвертый этап Кубка России – Ростелеком. Kazan hosts the fourth stage of the Russian Cup – Rostelecom. November 7, 2020. Figure Skating Federation of Russia. Russian. Outside of the "competition", Anna Yanovskaya - Adam Lukacs, who represent Hungary, but constantly train in Moscow, will show their programs. This dance couple will also take part in the November Moscow Grand Prix "Rostelecom Cup"..
- Web site: Фигурист Артур Даниелян успешно прооперирован в Германии. Figure skater Arthur Danielian underwent successful surgery in Germany. Russian. Anatoly. Samokhvalov. RIA Novosti. October 22, 2020.
- Web site: Тренер: Ходыкин переболел ОРВИ, из-за чего пропускает этап Гран-при. Coach: Khodykin has had ARVI, which is why he misses the Grand Prix stage. Russian. Anatoly. Samokhvalov. RIA Novosti. November 17, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Pairs. International Skating Union. November 12, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Pairs. International Skating Union. November 13, 2020.
- Web site: Евгения Медведева не выступит на этапе Гран-при в Москве. Evgenia Medvedeva will not perform at the Grand Prix stage in Moscow. Russian. TASS. November 16, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Ladies. International Skating Union. November 16, 2020.
- Web site: Фигуристы Степанова и Букин пропустят Гран-при в Москве из-за последствий коронавируса. Figure skaters Stepanova and Bukin will miss the Grand Prix in Moscow due to the consequences of the coronavirus. Russian. TASS. November 16, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Ice Dance. International Skating Union. November 16, 2020.
- Web site: Александр Самарин пропустит Гран-при в Москве из-за травмы спины. Alexander Samarin will miss the Grand Prix in Moscow due to a back injury. Russian. Anatoly. Samokhvalov. RIA Novosti. November 17, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Men. International Skating Union. November 17, 2020.
- Web site: ФФККР не будет искать замену Пепелевой и Плешкову на этапе Гран-при. FFKKR will not look for a replacement for Pepeleva and Pleshkov at the Grand Prix stage. Russian. Alexander. Rogulev. RIA Novosti. November 18, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Pairs. International Skating Union. November 18, 2020.
- Web site: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2020/21: Ladies. International Skating Union. October 19, 2020.
- Web site: Frequently Asked Questions: ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Season 2020/21. International Skating Union.
2020 Skate America
2020 Skate Canada International
2020 Cup of China
2020 Internationaux de France
2020 Rostelecom Cup
2020 NHK Trophy
Daniel Samohin
Michal Březina
Emily Monaghan / Ilias Fourati
Morisi Kvitelashvili
