From 8-13 June 2014, the Ice Skating Association of Ireland (ISAI) will host the 55th International Skating Union (ISU) Ordinary Congress at the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) in the heart of Dublin’s docklands. Over 350 delegates from 66 countries will converge on Ireland’s capital city contributing over €1 million to the Irish economy.
The Congress opened with a reception at CCD on the evening of Sunday 8 June 2014 with Ottavio Cinquanta, International Olympic Committee (IOC) member and President of the ISU, and Karen O’Sullivan, President of the Ice Skating Association of Ireland (ISAI), in attendance.
The ISAI received invaluable assistance and worked with Fáilte Ireland, the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI), the Irish Sports Council (ISC) and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport in order to bring this prestigious event to Dublin. It has been a significant achievement for one of the smallest federations in the ISU and indeed in Irish sport.
The ISU Congress was first held in 1892 in Scheveningen, the Netherlands and occurs on a biennial basis bringing together the leading administrators and officials globally for the sports of figure skating, short track and speed skating to discuss and vote on regulation and rule changes.
This is the first time the event will be held in Ireland and the offices of the ISU will relocate to Dublin from its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland for the duration of Congress making the city the temporary home of international ice skating. Delegates from Cyprus, Indonesia, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates will join Congress for the first time in the ISU’s history showing how far the reach of ice skating extends around the globe.
Ottavio Cinquanta, IOC member and President of the ISU said, “Ireland is a “new” country for the ISU, but with a solid background in the field of sport, that can be considered the best basis and premise for improvements in the future, also in our disciplines. Dublin, the capital, is a very ancient city, full of historical heritage that deserves our attention. I extend the gratitude of the ISU to the ISAI for hosting this important moment of our Union.”
Karen O’Sullivan, ISAI Chairperson said, “I look forward to hosting our peers at the ISU Congress 2014 in Dublin. Even though Ireland is a recent addition to the ISU family, we have endeavoured to actively contribute towards the development and future of our sport. There are many challenges facing us in the ever changing environment of the 21st century and I believe Congress in Dublin presents us with an opportunity to put us all on a progressive path.”
The ISU is the exclusive international sport federation recognised by the IOC administering sports in the branches of Figure Skating and Speed Skating throughout the world. (Long Track) Speed Skating and Short Track Speed Skating come under the Speed Skating Branch while Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance and Synchronized Skating constitute the Figure Skating Branch. The ISU is composed of a number of national associations called ISU Members, who administer ISU sports at the national level and recognise that all international matters are under the sole jurisdiction and control of the ISU.
Established in 1995, the ISAI is the National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport of ice skating in Ireland recognised as such by the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI), the Irish Sports Council (ISC) and the International Skating Union (ISU). A non-profit organisation, the ISAI aims to provide opportunities for individuals and teams to participate in ice skating at recreational and competition levels. The ISAI is a firm believer in encouraging female participation in sport and 80% of its members are women.
(Contact)
Seán Gillis, Communications & Media, ISAI
Tel: 087 6148 155 E-mail: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/iceskatingassociationofireland
Twitter: @IceSkateIRL #isucongress2014
