victorskid
03-13-2005, 10:34 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2005
SKATEFANS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND ISU REFORM
BEGIN BLOG ON "NEXT FIGURE SKATING SCANDAL"
Washington, D.C. - A new, untested figure skating judging system
that has already produced anomalous results. An edict from the
International Skating Union that prevents any questioning of
results, or any contact with the media, until outcomes are set in
stone. A refusal by the ISU to end the anonymity of judges' marks,
and a sham, unenforced code of accountability and ethics.
These factors will combine to set the stage for the next figure
skating scandal, according to Skate Fans for Accountability and ISU
Reform (SkateFAIR), the activist group responsible for the
successful protest at the World Championships in Washington in
2003. With this year's Worlds and next year's Olympics looming,
SkateFAIR will launch a new blog, "Countdown to the Next Figure
Skating Scandal," on March 13, 2005. The blog can be found at:
http://www.figure-skating-judging-scandal.com.
The blog will feature postings from'Deep Edge,' not a single
individual, but "a group of educated, knowledgeable, concerned
spectators and enthusiasts of the sport of figure skating,"
according to the blog's introduction. The blog will feature both
signed articles from various contributors and articles from skating
insiders, who, to protect their careers, must blog anonymously. The
first blog article, by former ISU Council member Sonia Bianchetti
Garbato, author of the recent book "Cracked Ice: Figure Skating's
Inner World," will be posted on March 13. Other bloggers, including
former skaters and judges, experts in statistical analysis, law,
organizational governance, ethics, and the history of the ISU, will
contribute articles in upcoming weeks.
"In recent years, we have seen the power of blogs, created by
individuals and grassroots groups, to attract attention from the
news media and generate new perspectives on important issues," said
SkateFAIR member Trudi Marrapodi. "We will use the blog to generate
pressure on behalf of the skaters, who are the real victims of
judging scandals. Our blog will provide the backstory to the
inevitable judging scandals of the future."
Additionally, SkateFAIR will be involved with the upcoming United
States Figure Skating Association's elections, to be held in May,
2005. The recent resignation by USFSA president Chuck Foster,
citing the organization's weakness and lack of response to ISU
decisions, has created an opportunity for real reform and an
expansion of the U.S. federation's presence in international
forums.
March 12, 2005
SKATEFANS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND ISU REFORM
BEGIN BLOG ON "NEXT FIGURE SKATING SCANDAL"
Washington, D.C. - A new, untested figure skating judging system
that has already produced anomalous results. An edict from the
International Skating Union that prevents any questioning of
results, or any contact with the media, until outcomes are set in
stone. A refusal by the ISU to end the anonymity of judges' marks,
and a sham, unenforced code of accountability and ethics.
These factors will combine to set the stage for the next figure
skating scandal, according to Skate Fans for Accountability and ISU
Reform (SkateFAIR), the activist group responsible for the
successful protest at the World Championships in Washington in
2003. With this year's Worlds and next year's Olympics looming,
SkateFAIR will launch a new blog, "Countdown to the Next Figure
Skating Scandal," on March 13, 2005. The blog can be found at:
http://www.figure-skating-judging-scandal.com.
The blog will feature postings from'Deep Edge,' not a single
individual, but "a group of educated, knowledgeable, concerned
spectators and enthusiasts of the sport of figure skating,"
according to the blog's introduction. The blog will feature both
signed articles from various contributors and articles from skating
insiders, who, to protect their careers, must blog anonymously. The
first blog article, by former ISU Council member Sonia Bianchetti
Garbato, author of the recent book "Cracked Ice: Figure Skating's
Inner World," will be posted on March 13. Other bloggers, including
former skaters and judges, experts in statistical analysis, law,
organizational governance, ethics, and the history of the ISU, will
contribute articles in upcoming weeks.
"In recent years, we have seen the power of blogs, created by
individuals and grassroots groups, to attract attention from the
news media and generate new perspectives on important issues," said
SkateFAIR member Trudi Marrapodi. "We will use the blog to generate
pressure on behalf of the skaters, who are the real victims of
judging scandals. Our blog will provide the backstory to the
inevitable judging scandals of the future."
Additionally, SkateFAIR will be involved with the upcoming United
States Figure Skating Association's elections, to be held in May,
2005. The recent resignation by USFSA president Chuck Foster,
citing the organization's weakness and lack of response to ISU
decisions, has created an opportunity for real reform and an
expansion of the U.S. federation's presence in international
forums.