From bold decisions and leadership elections to partners’ engagement and athlete-focused reforms, the 60th Ordinary ISU Congress in Tenerife, Spain, marked three pivotal days that set the course for the next phase of Vision 2030 and the continued evolution of skating worldwide.

Re-elected ISU President Jae Youl Kim, and ISU Director General, Colin Smith, surrounded by newly elected ISU Council members at the 60th ISU Ordinary Congress in Tenerife, Spain. © ISU

Bringing delegates from 88 Member Federations from across the skating world, the Congress reaffirmed the International Skating Union's commitment to Vision 2030, while setting new priorities designed to accelerate growth, strengthen governance, expand opportunities for athletes and Members, and bring skating to new audiences around the globe. 

1. A Renewed Mandate for Vision 2030

The Congress culminated with the re-election of ISU President Jae Youl Kim, who received the confidence of Members for a second term at the helm of the organization.

Delegates also elected a new leadership team of Vice Presidents, Council Members, Technical Committee Chairs and members, establishing the governance structure that will guide the next phase of Vision 2030.

Addressing Congress following his re-election, President Kim reflected on the progress achieved over the past four years while looking firmly toward the future: "Vision 2030 was never meant to be a final destination. It was the starting line. Together, we will continue building a stronger future for skating."

Among the key proposals put forward by President Kim and strongly endorsed by Congress was a landmark increase in athlete prize money. The measure, which reflects his continued focus on strengthening athlete support and recognition, was formally approved by Members and will more than double total prize money from USD 5.4 million to USD 11 million beginning with the 2026/27 season, further reinforcing the ISU’s commitment to athletes at every level of the sport.

2. Building the Foundations for the Future of Skating

Throughout the week, delegates received updates on the progress already achieved under Vision 2030 and the opportunities that lie ahead.

In his report, ISU Director General Colin Smith outlined how the organization has strengthened its service-minded operational capabilities to deliver the ambitions of Vision 2030, while modernizing its event hosting model, reshaping its media and commercial strategies, and partnered with key business partners, such as Deloitte, to build a unified digital ecosystem that enhances the fan experience. 

Looking ahead, the Director General emphasized that the next phase of the ISU's transformation will focus on expanding the events portfolio and engaging younger audiences through innovative digital platforms and storytelling. Key initiatives include the introduction of new long-term event calendars from the 2027/28 season onwards, the evolution of the Figure Skating Grand Prix Series through the addition of Grand Prix Semi-Finals, and continued investment in digital tools designed to connect fans with athletes and the sport year-round.

"We really want to continue our transformational journey by focusing on our sports, our fans and our athletes," said Mr. Smith. "We want to create more stories, build more heroes and bring skating to new audiences around the world."

3. Technology and Strategic Partnerships Driving Innovation

A recurring theme throughout Congress was the role innovation will play in skating's future. Delegates heard from several strategic partners helping drive the sport's evolution.

• Deloitte provided an update on its strategic partnership with the ISU, launched in February 2026, which aims to create a unified digital ecosystem connecting data, events and fan experiences across the organization.

• Swiss Timing showcased advancements in Smart Vision technology, which is already delivering new performance insights in Figure Skating and has the long-term objective of assisting officiating across multiple disciplines.
• Maelstrom presented its work on data-driven analysis of judging performance, supporting the ISU's efforts to strengthen confidence, consistency and transparency in officiating.
• Glice presented its synthetic ice technology, opening new possibilities for skating development in regions where traditional ice infrastructure remains limited.

Glice rink set up at the 60th ISU Ordinary Congress in Tenerife, Spain. © ISU

4. Athlete Welfare at the Heart of Every Decision

Throughout the Congress, the message was clear: performance and well-being go hand in hand, and ensuring athlete welfare, safeguarding and mental well-being remains a priority across all levels of the sport.

ISU Head of Athlete Welfare and Sustainability Ruth Trevallion outlined the significant progress made over the past four years, including the continued expansion of the Calm Zone programme, which was available at 14 ISU events during the 2025/26 season and welcomed more than 1,000 athlete visits.

Delegates also learned more about enhanced mental health support services and the rollout of Arwen, the ISU's AI-powered social media monitoring platform designed to help protect athletes from online abuse.

5. Development Delivers Results 

Presenting the Development Activity Report, ISU Head of Development and Member Relations Yihuan Chang highlighted how investments in athletes, coaches, officials and Member federations continue to strengthen skating worldwide, while expanding the sport into new regions around the world.

The success of those efforts was visible at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, where 109 athletes supported through ISU Development initiatives competed at the Games and collectively captured 18 Olympic medals.

6. Athlete Voice Continues to Grow

Athlete representation within the ISU continues to grow, and Congress provided an important platform for athletes to contribute directly to discussions about the future of the sport.

Newly elected Athletes Commission Chair Evan Bates emphasized the importance of collaboration and athlete engagement throughout the week: "It has been an incredible week at the ISU Congress in Tenerife, connecting with fellow athletes, decision-makers and key stakeholders from across skating."

Evan Bates, newly elected as Chair of the ISU Athletes' Committee, at the 60th ISU Ordinary Congress in Tenerife, Spain. © ISU

Athletes also welcomed plans for BEIJING28, which will bring together the ISU World Championships and ISU Skating Awards in a single city-wide celebration of skating. The concept was widely viewed as an exciting opportunity to unite athletes, fans and stakeholders while showcasing the full diversity of skating disciplines on one global stage.

7. Recognizing the distinguished members

Alongside discussions about the future, Congress also took time to recognize those whose dedication has helped shape skating's past and present. The ISU Gold Award of Merit was presented to Allan Böhm, while Reinier Oostheim, Dr. Hiroya Sakai and Joel Shobe were also honoured for their outstanding contributions to the international skating community.

In addition, Tron Espeli was named Honorary Vice President, while Sergio Anesi, Michael Geistlinger, Dr. Jane M. Moran, Maria Teresa Samaranch, Suwanna Silpa-Archa, Stoytcho G. Stoytchev and Patricia St. Peter were awarded Honorary Membership.

Presentation of the new Honorary members rewarded at the 60th ISU Ordinary Congress in Tenerife, Spain. © ISU

Looking Ahead

As delegates departed Tenerife, the message emerging from the 60th Ordinary ISU Congress was one of momentum.

With a renewed leadership team, significant investments in athletes, ambitious plans for innovation and fan engagement, and a clear roadmap through Vision 2030, the ISU leaves Tenerife with a strong mandate to continue transforming the future of skating.

The next chapter has begun.