Skate Canada changes ice dance and pairs rules to allow any 2 skaters to compete together at domestic events
'This change is about removing barriers to participation in skating,' says president Karen Butcher
Skate Canada has updated its policies so that ice dance or pairs teams competing domestically can be composed of any two athletes.
Canada's governing body of figure skating announced Tuesday that its definition of "team" for athletes training in the Podium Pathway will be revised to consisting of "two skaters."
The previous definition was one woman and one man.
Skate Canada said in a tweet that there are no new event categories, and any team can enter the pair or ice dance disciplines at any Skate Canada domestic event.
"By updating the definition of team, many individuals in the figure skating community in Canada will have new opportunities to embrace the sport," Karen Butcher, president of Skate Canada, said in a statement. "This change is about removing barriers to participation in skating, and we believe it will have a significant impact in ensuring all gender identities are recognised and accepted equally and without prejudice.
"This change has been collectively endorsed by Skate Canada and will allow for new and exciting partnerships in the pair and ice dance disciplines to compete at the national level. Skate Canada is privileged to continue the advancement of skating in Canada by making rule and policy change that allows everyone to experience the joy of skating."
We are pleased to be advancing our Skating for Everyone initiative with the updated definition of ‘team’ for pair and ice dance teams. <br><br>The Podium Pathway definition of ‘team’ will be revised to ‘a team consists of two skaters’.<br><br>Details ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/sw1QG58Xv4">https://t.co/sw1QG58Xv4</a>
—@SkateCanadaThe Podium Pathway is a high-performance training path for athletes looking to compete at national or international championships.
The definition and the language will be updated in Skate Canada's rule book, Podium Pathway documents and the scoring system.
"All skaters deserve to have a home on the ice — inclusive of their fullest selves. I look forward to seeing that become a reality in the competitive arena."
Scott Moir, a three-time Olympic medallist and three-time world champion in ice dance alongside longtime partner Tessa Virtue, said the change was "necessary.
"Our craft is a mixture of athleticism and art and because of this we have a unique opportunity for a level playing field unlike any other sport, regardless of how individuals identify," Moir said.
"This change will push the sport forward in many ways with the creation of new and interesting work from athletes that now can perform together."
