ISU announces 'ISU Skating Awards' | Page 5 | Golden Skate

ISU announces 'ISU Skating Awards'

ice coverage

avatar credit: @miyan5605
Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
If the ISU wanted to broaden the scope of the gala to include, say, a special non-skating artistic performance from something like Cirque de Soleil (based in Montreal, I believe), In an effort to broaden the appeal of the sport, I would be all for it. ...

BTW, already confirmed to perform is Cirque Éloize, which is a "renowned contemporary circus company" based in Montreal. It was mentioned in the presser, which I now have watched.
(First time I have heard of Cirque Éloize, but probably just my oblivion. Partially because I live in the U.S.??)

The organizers wish to show how figure skating can be combined with non-skating elements of entertainment.

[The link to the presser that worked for me: https://youtu.be/4QfZvfpJD60 (38:26). The link in the OP is to a private video that I could not access.]

... I want to see the skaters skate! ...

This concern is valid. (I think you mean the non-medalist skaters from Worlds, not just the medalists.)

None of the following would alleviate that concern, but some other bits from the presser:

I think I heard that the non-medalist skaters will walk the red carpet.
(And I hope that it would be a novel/memorable experience for them. The Team Challenge Cup skaters seemed to enjoy walking the red carpet there.)

There was something about "specialist skaters" being flown in to perform in the gala. I think it was a reference to non-retired skaters who are not 2020 Worlds competitors. What exactly would make them "specialists," I don't know.

Also something about additional skaters (who are not 2020 Worlds competitors) being invited to perform. Such as Canadian skaters.​


Much of what was discussed in the presser did not seem clear to me.

And there was well-intended stuff in the voting/selection process for the awards that IMO would seem to open the door to confusion. If I heard/recall correctly:
The voting will open on Dec 1, and continue until Feb 20.
ETA (on Oct 28), correction:
Feb 10 is the end date.​
Each voter is allowed only one vote per category.
But depending on what happens at GPF, Euros, and Four Continents, it is possible that new skaters would be added as voting options. If so, voters would be allowed to change their votes.
Plus depending on what happens at Worlds, it is possible that new skaters would be added to the mix for the jury to consider.​

My general impression is that the whole thing is very much a work in progress.
Curious to see how it all turns out. :popcorn:

(Not that anyone should care, but I do not plan to post in this thread again.
If people dislike what has been announced, of course they are entitled to their opinion.
But I do not like the tone of mean-spirited mockery that is becoming pervasive in the thread. [I am not referring to you, Seven Sisters.])
 

ladyjane

Medalist
Joined
Jun 26, 2012
Country
Netherlands
Awards? I've recently been busy with introducing an Award for something quite different but with no competition simultaneously. I don't get it, to be honest. There's the competition = with winners and so on. And then there's awards. I like the idea of a costuming prize (and of course it can be discussed whether the disigner or the wearer should be honoured). But doesn't there already exist an International Hall of Fame to celebrate good skaters, good coaches and such? Is the ISU now trying to take this to themselves? Worried. I'd rather see a good exhibition, and have 'red carpet' events somewhere else.
 

Interspectator

Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 25, 2012
For me speeches are a major turn-off. I hate them. Even when they are well made or eloquent. Pressers at least are about sharing information, asking questions. Speeches ugh! Award ceremonies are speechathons and they intersperse it with song and dance so the audience doesn't wander off.
-Just give me the song and dance please. :dev2:;)

EDIT: I realize I came off very strong here. As always, contrary opinions are welcome, prove me wrong. Proclaim your love for your favorite award show (and the speeches that come with it)
 
Last edited:

ancientpeas

The Notorious SEW
Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 11, 2014
For me speeches are a major turn-off. I hate them. Even when they are well made or eloquent. Pressers at least are about sharing information, asking questions. Speeches ugh! Award ceremonies are speechathons and they intersperse it with song and dance so the audience doesn't wander off.
-Just give me the song and dance please. :dev2:;)

EDIT: I realize I came off very strong here. As always, contrary opinions are welcome, prove me wrong. Proclaim your love for your favorite award show (and the speeches that come with it)

A lot of people here in North America love the Golden Globe awards because they serve alcohol and often by the end of the evening the actors are tipsy and give weird speeches. I wouldn't suggest a similar approach for the ISU.
 

TontoK

Hot Tonto
Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 28, 2013
Country
United-States
A lot of people here in North America love the Golden Globe awards because they serve alcohol and often by the end of the evening the actors are tipsy and give weird speeches. I wouldn't suggest a similar approach for the ISU.

If they allowed, or even encouraged, heckling during the award presentations, that might spice things up.

I might even buy a ticket. I have a few things I'd like to say.
 

Alexz

Medalist
Joined
Mar 29, 2016
Country
United-States
Best Newcomer? May I propose Best Newcomers?

Certainly, it should go to all three of them. This is a very exciting generation, perhaps the most talented one since Yuna and Mao. It is extremely hard to pick just one among Aliona, Anna and Sasha. Just as hard as to pick the greatest one between Kim and Asada. Even right now retrospectively knowing all their titles and achievements.

Who knows which one among these "3A girls" will become the greatest one in 3-5 years, but it would be the safest bet right now and a nice gesture in general just to give this Award to all 3 of them together. They train together every day, they are ice skating friends, they will be fiercely competing together this season. Let's celebrate that and let's celebrate them all together. As a special exception to mark this milestone of the very first issue of this Award.

They all have their strong and weak sides, but all three are equally exciting to watch. Each in their own way. They already brought lot of new young fans to the sport and a lot of fierce discussions among fans online. From what I've seen so far this season they are about equal in my books. Well now, let's get this Award given to all three of them then. Imagine how fun this cheerful girly bunch would be on that stage together and mischievously giggling at a microphone while thanking an audience in English. (Hey, Alyona and Anna both have rather good English, btw. Finally some global Russians now in figure skating as well!) This would melt hearts worldwide. This would be a good PR stuff for our sport and a very picture-perfect opportunity for this very first Award ceremony.
 

ramurphy2005

Unabashed Mainer
On the Ice
Joined
Feb 12, 2014
Country
United-States
A lot of people here in North America love the Golden Globe awards because they serve alcohol and often by the end of the evening the actors are tipsy and give weird speeches. I wouldn't suggest a similar approach for the ISU.

Maybe they should model them after the Tony's? I enjoy watching that award show, but then, that always has performances from nominated shows.
 

thatbeatingheart

On the Ice
Joined
Oct 18, 2018
Country
Germany
I guess the biggest "turn-off" of this idea is that it's connected to the World Championships and replacing the traditional gala. It's a competition after all and connecting it to a show with all kinds of performances and superficialities is not a good look for the sport imo. If it was a separately hold event I'd say, well, go on and try it, but I'm not looking forward to it the way it is proposed now. Had I bought a ticket for the gala and got this instead I'd actually be angry lol.
 

theedge

Spectator
Joined
Jan 16, 2015
So this new "Awards Show" is to actually REPLACE the gala??? I only saw the headline on my way to work but I thought it will be some kind of "extra event" after the gala...but THIS? Maybe ISU is trying to change figure skating into very poorly made copy of Oscars with these awards they are going to give... if so, ISU is surely the winner of the Golden Raspberry Award then. :sarcasm:
 

ruga

Final Flight
Joined
Oct 20, 2017
Gala is one of the most loved events in Worlds, why would they replace it with an award show (almost all award shows have been losing ratings in the past few years, ISU once again is late to the party). Not to mention that there will be more unhappy than satisfied people after the event has finished.
 

chuckm

Record Breaker
Joined
Aug 31, 2003
Country
United-States
PLEASE let this not be the way Worlds is run from now on, but is just a deal made up for Montreal Worlds.

This thing just takes all the attention away from the top skaters in the World and shifts the focus to nonsense. Why can't the skaters get all the buzz which they richly deserve after a long year of hard work.

I thought getting tickets to Montreal Worlds was a great idea. Now I am already severely disappointed. :disapp:
 

ice coverage

avatar credit: @miyan5605
Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Worth returning to the thread to link to the very detailed FAQs from the ISU:


A lot of fine print (some of it worth noting) beyond the details announced in the presser.

For example, some of the rules are intended to prevent national "bias" (my word) from "overwhelming" (my word) the voting/selection process. The efforts at prevention are a good thing.
(National "bias" of fans, federations, and jury members.)

Meanwhile, the voting/selection process as a whole is quite complicated. As I alluded to in a previous post, I think good intentions seem to have created a lot of complications. Examples:
The public is allowed to vote for four designated categories -- excluding choreographer, coach, and lifetime achievement. Media and ISU members are allowed to vote for all categories except lifetime achievement.
Different categories will have different numbers of candidates for the online voting; and the four disciplines do not necessarily have the same number of candidates per category.​

I do worry that Team Challenge Cup syndrome may end up being a problem here.
Meaning that I worry that even open-minded fans (who are willing to give a chance to something new and different) ultimately will find it all but impossible to keep track of and understand the structure of the voting and of the event.
We shall see. :popcorn:


PLEASE let this not be the way Worlds is run from now on, but is just a deal made up for Montreal Worlds. ...

Per the presser, the vision (my word) is not for a one-time event.

The organizers understand that they will have to reassess after the first edition at 2020 Worlds.
But they want to do more.
 

Edwin

СделаноВХрустальном!
Record Breaker
Joined
Jan 5, 2019
IMO a lot to do about nothing.

The federations voted this in by majority? Is transparency guaranteed?

Why not make it a separate event later in the season, having a grand gala show with all the champions and guests and invited artists, including several decoration ceremonies?

Chances are, several of the nominees or even winners might not be present at WC 2020, unless their awards are secretly announced to them, and they are flown in business class at last instant to maintain secrecy?
 

temadd

Final Flight
Joined
Nov 19, 2015
I don't know why so many of you are turning your nose up at this. What's wrong with recognizing skaters with more than just medals? We all complain about artistic skaters who can't win without difficult tech. Here is a way to recognize them with an award. I think that giving awards to choreographers and coaches is important. There are other sports feds that do similar awards. Look at the NBA, NFL, Major League Baseball in the US that give awards for specific achievements. These are often coveted awards.
 

ice coverage

avatar credit: @miyan5605
Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
… Chances are, several of the nominees or even winners might not be present at WC 2020, unless their awards are secretly announced to them, and they are flown in business class at last instant to maintain secrecy?

No need for secrecy (with possibly one exception), given that the ISU already has said that the nominees will be announced on Mar 10, 2020 -- in advance of Worlds.

I think the only category possibly requiring secrecy would be the one and only nominee for lifetime achievement, if the ISU does not want to announce that winner until the awards event.

IIRC, it was mentioned in the presser that the nominees will walk the red carpet … meaning that arrangements obviously would be made for them to be in attendance at least for the awards event.
 

Interspectator

Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 25, 2012
I don't know why so many of you are turning your nose up at this. What's wrong with recognizing skaters with more than just medals? We all complain about artistic skaters who can't win without difficult tech. Here is a way to recognize them with an award. I think that giving awards to choreographers and coaches is important. There are other sports feds that do similar awards. Look at the NBA, NFL, Major League Baseball in the US that give awards for specific achievements. These are often coveted awards.

--I wouldn't mind an additional Awards ceremony which I could just skip, and read the list of Awards given.
But I really like the Skating Galas, non medalists and our favorite artistic skaters shine there as well. Don't want one to replace the other.
 

lariko

Medalist
Joined
Jan 31, 2019
Country
Canada
Yeah, no gala and an event that finishes at like midnight local time? I dunno how about others, but if I’m going to see a competition in an unfamiliar city, let alone abroad, the last thing I want to do is looking for safe means to return to my hotel at midnight on Sunday! Plus, that means you have to find something else to do the whole day waiting for it there.
 

ice coverage

avatar credit: @miyan5605
Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Yeah, no gala and an event that finishes at like midnight local time? I dunno how about others, but if I’m going to see a competition in an unfamiliar city, let alone abroad, the last thing I want to do is looking for safe means to return to my hotel at midnight on Sunday! ...

But … 6:30 pm is the end time in Montreal for Sunday's awards event. Nowhere near midnight.

The awards event is scheduled for 16.00 – 18.30 hours (EDT) in Montreal on Sunday, Mar 7, 2020.

(You apparently were confused by the conversion to GMT, which is not the local time zone for Montreal.)
 

lariko

Medalist
Joined
Jan 31, 2019
Country
Canada
Oh, thanks goodness. I was freaked out by that GMT. I’m always afraid of being stuck outside after dark.
 

gravy

¿No ven quién soy yo?
Record Breaker
Joined
Mar 28, 2014
That Challenge Cup red carpet nonsense in 2016 was second hand embarrassing. Do people in the ISU not have a cringe reflex?

Everything in skating is biased, duh--nature of the sport so that's nothing new. But skaters can't even interact normally with interviewers on account of having no social life and now we're adding this for them to deal with (and us to put up with)? Jeez, ya no thx.
 
Top