Lausanne, Switzerland, September 2, 2020: During its online meeting of August 28, the International Skating Union Council received a report from the appointed Working Group on the negative impact of COVID-19 on sporting events.
The report included feedback received from the organising ISU members of ISU speed skating and short track speed skating events.
The following four ISU World Cup speed skating competitions in 2020 are, therefore, cancelled:
*Tomaszow-Mazowiecki, POL November 13-15
*Stavanger, NOR November 20-22
*Salt Lake City, USA December 4-6
*Calgary, CAN December 11-13
However, based on a proposal endorsed by the organising ISU members of the initially allocated ISU World Cup speed skating competitions of the season 2020/21, the ISU Council decided to proceed with a specific evaluation of a hub concept in the Netherlands as an alternative to hosting the above-mentioned ISU World Cups.
The Council acknowledged that the concept needs to be further discussed with all stakeholders in order to decide whether this is a feasible way to implement safe, high-level international competitions with worldwide participation during the time period of the above-mentioned four World Cups.
The ISU Council also concluded that the first two ISU World Cup short track competitions cannot be organised as planned.
The following ISU World Cup short track competitions in 2020 are, therefore, cancelled:
*Montreal, CAN November 6-8
*Laval, CAN November 13-15
A decision on the holding of the following two ISU World Cup short track competitions in 2020 remains pending further consultations with all stakeholders:
*Seoul, KOR December 11-13
*Beijing, CHN December 18-20