The 2020–21 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating was a series of senior international competitions organized by the International Skating Union that were held from October 2020 through December 2020. Medals were awarded in men's singles, ladies's singles, pair skating, and ice dance. Before modifications resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, skaters would have earned points based on their placement at each event and the top six in each discipline would have qualified to compete at the Grand Prix Final in Beijing, China. Because of the pandemic, only four of the six events were held, while the Grand Prix Final also ultimately cancelled.[1] The corresponding series for junior-level skaters would have been the 2020–21 ISU Junior Grand Prix, but the ISU announced its cancellation in July 2020.[2]
Reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic
On May 1, 2020, the International Skating Union established a working group, chaired by ISU Vice-president for Figure Skating Alexander Lakernik, to monitor the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Its responsibilities included determining the feasibility of holding events as scheduled, possibly behind closed doors, during the first half of the season, and the financial impact of any potential cancellations.[3] The ISU announced that a host federation must make a decision regarding potential cancellation of their event at least twelve weeks prior to the event.[4]
On July 9, the General Administration of Sport of China announced that no international sporting events would be held in China in 2020 except for 2022 Winter Olympics test events.[5] The Chinese Skating Association was scheduled to host several events during the season, including the Cup of China, the Grand Prix Final, and the World Junior Championships. While the Grand Prix Final, scheduled to be hosted in Beijing, was exempt from the Chinese government's ruling due to its status as the test event for the Olympic Games, the ISU had not yet discussed a contingency plan regarding Grand Prix event cancellations at the time of the Chinese government's announcement.[6] The ISU announced on July 13 that the Cup of China would remain as scheduled in Chongqing due to its connection to the Beijing test event: the Grand Prix Final.[7]
On August 4, the ISU confirmed that the Grand Prix series would proceed as scheduled during the fall, with a decision to be made regarding the Grand Prix Final at a later date.[8] The competitions were expected to feature skaters from the home country, skaters already training in the host nation, and skaters assigned to that event for geographic reasons; all officials would also be from the national organizing committee.[9]
On September 30, the ISU announced that the Grand Prix Final would not be held as scheduled in Beijing on December 10–13, and that they were searching for an alternate host outside China for the event.[11][12] On October 14, Skate Canada announced the cancellation of the 2020 Skate Canada International due to the worsening situation in Ontario.[13] The French Federation of Ice Sports informed the ISU of the cancellation of the 2020 Internationaux de France on October 19.[14]
On November 13, a joint adapted sports testing program developed by the Beijing 2022 planning committee, the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, and various winter sports federations, including the ISU, replaced all test events scheduled in Beijing. Despite the ongoing pandemic, the ISU announced that it would evaluate the possibility of finding alternative locations outside China and dates to replace the Grand Prix Final.[12]
On December 10, the ISU announced the definitive cancellation of the Grand Prix Final alongside the cancellation of the 2021 European Championships.[1]
The domestic nature of the competitions meant that no ISU World Standing/Ranking points would be awarded to skaters and that scores received would not count for minimum TES requirements for ISU Championship competitions.[15]
Schedule
On October 14, Skate Canada announced the cancellation of the 2020 Skate Canada International,[13] while the French Federation of Ice Sports announced the cancellation of the 2020 Internationaux de France on October 19.[14]
Skaters were eligible to compete on the senior Grand Prix circuit if they had reached the age of 15 before July 1, 2020. Due to the modified format, skaters were not required to have earned a minimum total score from certain international events.
Assignments
As part of the ISU's efforts to mitigate the risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, skaters were limited to one assignment each.[21] Assignments were released on October 1, 2020.[22]
The competitions were largely domestic events due to the pandemic, leading to skaters from the home country dominating the medals table at each respective event.
The scores awarded on the 2020–21 Grand Prix did not count for minimum TES requirements for the ISU Championships and did not count as official personal bests, season's bests, or world records.[15][59]
^Ermolina, Olga (November 7, 2020). "Казань принимает четвертый этап Кубка России – Ростелеком" [Kazan hosts the fourth stage of the Russian Cup – Rostelecom] (in Russian). Figure Skating Federation of Russia. Outside of the "competition", Anna Yanovskaya - Adam Lukacs, who represent Hungary, but constantly train in Moscow, will show their programs. This dance couple will also take part in the November Moscow Grand Prix "Rostelecom Cup".
2020 Skate America
2020 Skate Canada International
2020 Cup of China
2020 Internationaux de France
2020 Rostelecom Cup
2020 NHK Trophy
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Georgia
Israel
United States
Armenia
Estonia
South Korea
Hungary
Michal Březina
Ukraine