2020–21 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final

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2020–21 Grand Prix Final
Type:Grand Prix
Season:2020–21
Location:Beijing, China
Host:Chinese Skating Association
Venue:Capital Indoor Stadium
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The 2020–21 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final would have been a figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU), organized and hosted by the Chinese Skating Association, and the final event of the 2020–21 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating series. It was scheduled to be held concurrently with the 2020–21 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China, from 10–13 December 2020.[1] Medals would have been awarded in men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance at the senior and junior levels. However, the competition was cancelled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background

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The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating is a series of seven events sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU) and held during the autumn: six qualifying events and the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. This allows skaters to perfect their programs earlier in the season, as well as compete against the skaters with whom they will later compete at the World Championships. Skaters earn points based on their results in their respective competitions and the top skaters or teams in each discipline are invited to compete at the Grand Prix Final.[2] Likewise, the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating (JGP) is a series of seven international figure skating competitions exclusively for junior-level skaters. The locations of the Junior Grand Prix events change every year. Skaters earn points based on their results each season, and the top skaters or teams in each discipline are then invited to compete at the Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final.[3]

On 9 July 2020, the General Administration of Sport of China announced that no international sporting events would be held in China in 2020 except for test events for the 2022 Winter Olympics.[4] The Chinese Skating Association was scheduled to host several events during the season, including the 2020 Grand Prix Final. The Grand Prix Final, scheduled to be hosted in Beijing, was event exempt from the government's ruling due to its status as the test event for the Olympic Games.[5]

On 20 July, the ISU officially cancelled the Junior Grand Prix series due to travel and quarantine restrictions in place owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] On 4 August, the ISU confirmed that the Grand Prix series would proceed as scheduled during the fall, but each event would feature domestic skaters, skaters already training in the host nation, and skaters assigned to that event for geographic reasons in an effort to limit travel during the global pandemic.[7]

On 30 September, the ISU announced the postponement of the 2020 Grand Prix Final. They believed that hosting the competition on from 18 to 20 December, conflicting with year-end holidays and national championships, could have impacted a number of participants given global travel restrictions and potential quarantines.[8]

On 13 November, an adapted sports testing program developed by the Beijing 2022 Organizing Committee, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), and the international winter sports federations replaced all scheduled Beijing test events. Despite the ongoing pandemic, the ISU announced that it would evaluate the possibility of finding alternative locations outside of China to host the 2020 Grand Prix Final.[9] On 10 December, the ISU announced the definitive cancellation of the Grand Prix Final, along with the 2021 European Figure Skating Championships, due to "the worsening worldwide Covid-19 pandemic situation and the consequent increasing risks for organizers and participants".[10]

References

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  1. ^ "ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating and ISU Challenger Series announced" (Press release). International Skating Union. 27 March 2019. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  2. ^ Hines, James R. (2006). Figure Skating: A History. University of Illinois Press. pp. 246–247, 332–335. ISBN 978-0-252-07286-4.
  3. ^ "ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 24 April 2025. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
  4. ^ "No international sport events in China this year except for Beijing 2022 trials". Xinhua News Agency. 9 July 2020. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  5. ^ Zhukov, Vladislav (9 July 2020). "Финал Гран-при по фигурному катанию не попадает под запрет о проведении турниров в Китае" [The final of the Grand Prix of figure skating does not fall under the ban on holding tournaments in China]. TASS (in Russian). Archived from the original on 10 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  6. ^ "ISU Junior Grand Prix Series 2020/21 cancelled". International Skating Union. 20 July 2020. Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  7. ^ "Grand Prix figure skating series downsized to localized events". CBC. The Associated Press. 4 August 2020. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Cancellation/Postponement of ISU Events season 2020/21". International Skating Union. 30 September 2020. Archived from the original on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  9. ^ "Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games – Adapted Sports Testing Programme". International Skating Union. 13 November 2020. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Update on ISU Event Calendar season 2020/21". International Skating Union. 10 December 2020. Archived from the original on 12 December 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2020.