British Ice Skating Represented at the 60th ISU Congress
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
19 June 2026
Last week, a delegation from British Ice Skating including President Pam Aguss, CEO Maggie Still, and Board members Alistair Wilson and Mary Chapman, attended the 60th International Skating Union (ISU) Congress in Tenerife, Spain.
Held every two years, Congress brings together ISU Member federations to elect office holders and discuss the future direction of the sport. This year’s Congress focused particularly on the next stages of implementing the ISU’s strategic growth plan Vision 2030, which aims to build an athlete-first, member-friendly and fan-centric future for ice skating.
On attending the event, BIS President Pam Aguss said:
“It was a pleasure to represent British Ice Skating and all our members at the 2026 ISU Congress, where the ISU reaffirmed their commitment to supporting athletes and working collaboratively with member federations to shape the future of skating. As we enter a new Olympic cycle and the next stage of the ISU Vision 2030, there is real excitement around the initiatives and opportunities ahead. We look forward to working alongside the ISU and the wider skating community to help deliver these positive changes in the years to come.”
Here’s a quick summary of the biggest news from the 2026 ISU Congress:
Beijing 2028
The ISU confirmed plans for BEIJING 2028, which will bring together the World Championships for Figure Skating, Speed Skating, Short Track and Synchronized Skating in a single host city! Find out more.
Putting Athletes First
In line with the athlete-first approach of Vision 2030, the ISU will continue to focus on key areas of athlete support, including mental health, athlete safety, career transition support and cyber safety, aiming to create a successful long-term approach to athlete wellbeing.
New Grand Prix Structure
A new competition structure was approved for the ISU Grand Prix Series. From the 2027/28 season, two Grand Prix Semi-Final events will be introduced ahead of the Grand Prix Final.
Synchronized Skating and the Olympic Movement
The ISU provided an update on ongoing efforts to secure Olympic inclusion for synchronized skating. Work continues with the International Olympic Committee as the discipline seeks a place on a future Olympic Winter Games programme, following the successful addition of Synchro9 to the 2028 Winter Youth Olympics. Find out more.
No Major Rule Changes Expected
No major rule changes are expected in the immediate future. The focus remains on refining and improving existing systems rather than introducing significant changes ahead of the next Olympic cycle.
New Judge Evaluation Platform
The ISU presented a new judge evaluation platform that will be used to assess and rank judges based on their performance. The system is intended to support official development and consistency across competitions.
Increased Athlete Prize Money
Delegates approved an increase in prize money across ISU events. The changes will provide greater financial rewards for athletes competing at the highest levels of international skating. Find out more.
ISU Leadership Elections
Elections were held for a number of ISU leadership positions, with results including the re-election of Jae Youl Kim as ISU President. Those elected will help shape the future direction of the organisation and the sport for years to come – see the full list of election results here.
Looking Ahead
The Congress set the direction for several key initiatives across governance, events, athlete support and sport development. British Ice Skating was pleased to contribute to discussions and votes as part of the UK delegation, and looks forward to working with the ISU and member federations on the implementation of these plans.If you’d like to find a more detailed breakdown of everything covered at the ISU Congress 2026, read the daily live blogs here:
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