Do you also have concerns about the New World Tour Format? Sign the petition below!

Update: the format below and all its points have been confirmed in ISU Communication 2648.

At the ISU Congress in Las Vegas, the ISU presented a new format in which the World Cups will be replaced by a World Tour starting this season 24/25. 

The motivation for change in format given by the ISU was as follows:

‘The World Cup Short Track Speed Skating is suffering from lack of finances. In order to provide for better access to Sponsors, a World Tour like in other International Sports Federations shall be introduced. There will be implications as to names, marketing and branding announced by an ISU Communication. However, the sports technical rules for the World Cup Short Track Speed Skating as laid down by the Special Regulations and Technical Rules shall not be affected.’

The congress members accepted the above ISU World Tour proposal and therefore this will be implemented per direct this season 24/25.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL SHORT TRACK STAKEHOLDERS

Besides the name change from World Cup to World Tour and new marketing and branding activities (see contents of the PowerPoint slides below), the ISU is planning to introduce in this season 24/25 the following extra, in the ISU agenda proposal not specified, significant change in format starting this season 24/25

The World Tour format will offer:

• only 3 individual distances (500, 1000 and 1500) per gender 
  = only 9 individual starting places per gender per World Tour weekend

Before, the World Cup series offered 

Non-Olympic seasons:  

• 4 individual distances (500, 1000 and 1500 and one distance double) per gender 
  = 12 individual starting places per gender per World Cup weekend

Olympic season:  

• 3 individual distances (500, 1000 and 1500) per gender 
  = 9 individual starting places per gender per World Cup weekend

This major reduction of individual starting places in non-Olympic seasons from 12 to only 9 (minus 25%) has the following significant consequences:

• Athlete (skill) development capacity significantly reduced from 25 up to 50%
  • Minus 25% in case the 9 individual starting places are divided per gender as follows: 
    3 athletes skate 2 individual distances per weekend and 3 athletes skate 1 individual distance per weekend!
  • Minus 50% in case the 9 individual starting places are divided per gender as follows : 
    3 athletes skate 3 individual distances per weekend and 3 athletes skate 0 individual distances per weekend!
    The 4th, 5th and 6th best skater per country will have significantly fewer or even no individual racing opportunities during the World Tours. This will result in a major reduction of (race skill)development of the upcoming next-generation athletes.
    The equal playfield between the so-called established top athletes and the upcoming next-generation athletes, will be damaged.

• (National) sponsor exposure significantly reduced by 25% 
  as a result of 25% fewer individual starting places and 25% fewer individual final distances per gender (3 instead of 4).
  Many countries rely on sponsorship to run their full high-performance program. Yet, the ISU reduces possible broadcasting time and visibility for these sponsors during the upcoming World Tour (only three instead of four main programs). Moreover, the ISU enforces all countries to reserve a significant part of the skinsuit for the main ISU sponsor of the World Tour. One can only hope that the new format attracts a larger audience to make up for the visibility loss.

• Development Toplevel at risk – Next-generation top athletes risk not meeting or exceeding the level of the current top athletes. What is the future promotional value of the sport? 
  The major reduction of (race skill) development of the upcoming next-generation athletes will lead to a high risk that the next-generation top athletes will not be better or even worse than the current top athletes. This will lead to a reduction of public and media interest and therefore the promotional value of the sport

CALL TO ACTION

While the specifics are not yet set in stone by the ISU, it is crucial to inform  your teammates, coaches, and federations about the matter and make up your mind ASAP. By voicing your positions/concerns we hope to optimize the new World Tour format for our athletes and our beloved sport in cooperation with the ISU.

Main Goal = Maintain the 12 individual starting positions per gender for non-Olympic years and preferably also in the Olympic years.

Solution
To compensate for the 25% loss of individual starting places, we suggest assigning four starting places per country per distance and per gender. This way, the total of 12 is maintained, and countries have the opportunity to support their Athlete development program by giving each of their 6 athletes per gender the opportunity to race 2 distances per weekend.

With this, we achieve:

• securing the 12 individual starting positions per country per gender;
• facilitating that the best athletes meet per distance;
• preventing the need for extra ice time or cost per weekend compared to World Cup series while we still maintain our Athlete and Sport TOP level development capacity!!!