After 22 years at the helm of the International Skating Union, Ottavio Cinquanta handed over his presidency mantle to Jan Dijkema, 71, at the 2016 ISU Congress on June 10.
Dijkema, who hails from the Netherlands, was previously a second vice president for speed skating. He won the presidential race in the second round of voting with 63 to Hungary’s György Sallak 52. Two other candidates, Didier Gailhaguet and Chris Buchanan received 25 and two votes, respectively, and withdrew after the first ballot. Dijkema has said that he plans to serve for only a two-year term.
Russia’s Alexander Lakernik was elected as the new Vice President, Figure Skating, after earning 81 votes to Marie Lundmark’s 34. Lundmark had been the interim vice president following the death of David Dore in May.
Notable amendments passed at Congress:
Members voted to abolish judging anonymity.
An Athletes Commission is being formed.
The extra 30-second warm-up time for the first skater in a flight has been removed.
Falls will be costly for singles skaters in the senior ranks going forward: -1.0 for first and second falls; -2.0 for the third and fourth falls; and -3.0 for any further falls.
The waiting period for a skater’s release has been harmonized to 12 months for all competitions. The former 18-month wait to compete at a Championship event is no longer required.
Figure Skating Council Members:
Ms. Junko Hiramatsu (JPN) 94 votes
Ms. Patricia St. Peter (USA) 93 votes
Ms. Marie Lundmark (FIN) 91 votes
Mr. Benoit Lavoie (CAN) 85 votes
Ms. Maria Teresa Samaranch (ESP) 67 votes
Single & Pair Skating
The Chair of the Single & Pairs Skating Technical Committee was elected by acclamation
Chair: Mr. Fabio Bianchetti (ITA)
Members: Ms. Susan Lynch AUS 46 votes (first elected)
Ms. Yukiko Okabe JPN 46 votes
Ms. Rita Zonnekeyn BEL 41 votes
Ice Dance
Chair: Ms. Halina GORDON-POLTORAK POL 53 votes
Members: Mr. Shawn Rettstatt USA 51 votes
Ms. Alla Shekhovtsova RUS 47 votes
Ms. Hilary Selby GBR 38 votes
After 41 years as ISU Office Holder and 22 years as ISU President, Mr. Ottavio Cinquanta was awarded the title of Honorary President. Congress Delegates paid tribute to him with a long standing ovation.
Elected Honorary Members include:
- Vice President David Dore was elected post-mortem as Honorary Vice President
- Council members Phyllis Howard, Tjasa Andrée-Prosenc, German Panov, Lan Li and György Martos as Honorary Members.
- Former Ice Dance Technical Committee members Alexander Gorshkov, Ann Shaw and Olga Gilardini as Honorary Members
- Peter Krick as Honorary Member
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