A lack of response to concerns that the Stockholm 2021 Figure Skating World Championships could become a Covid-19 ‘super spreader’ contradicts claims by the International Skating Union (ISU) and the local organising committee that health and safety of all participants is ‘the number one priority’. An online petition, which has gained over 3,000 signatures, calls for the ISU to postpone the 22-28 March event in order to quarantine all attending ‘for at least 14 days’; and asks the ISU to provide figure skaters with alternative methods of qualification for the Beijing 2022 Olympics.

The petition highlights advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that ‘the incubation period (the time from exposure to development of symptoms) of SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses (e.g., MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV) ranges from 2–14 days’. The ISU’s Health Regulations (PDF below or click here) for the event require:

• attendees to ‘observe, check and report daily his/her own health situation starting at least five days prior to arrival’ using an ISU online questionnaire;
• presentation of a negative Covid-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test taken no more than 48 hours prior to arrival in Stockholm;
• An additional PCR test four days after arrival on site (the latest permitted arrival is 21 March);
• A person who tests positive for Covid-19 at the event to self-isolate for ‘at least’ seven days.

‘There is no quarantine on arrival’, points out the petition. ‘Skaters and teams will be traveling on commercial airlines through commercial airports. Staff and volunteers have also only been asked to follow the same testing and procedures as athletes and teams, with no quarantine.’ The petition points to how a similar ‘bubble’ arranged for a conference in January ended up spreading Covid-19.

The petition also alleges that all attendees are required to sign a waiver stating that they will not hold the ISU liable for any Covid-19 related damages. It also highlights that participation in the Worlds is the main pathway to qualification for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. ‘We consider this a way of coercing skaters to participate and a way to ensure no country’s skating federation withdraws’, it reads.

The Sports Integrity Initiative sent a series of questions to the ISU and Stockholm 2021 on 16 March. A reminder was sent on 18 March after InsideTheGames covered the petition. Neither the ISU nor Stockholm 2021 acknowledged receipt of our questions, let alone answered them. On 16 March, the ISU did issue a communication outlining that medical insurance is the ‘sole obligation of each ISU member’, as already outlined in Rule 119 (see above right).

Money talks and the International Skating Union @ISU_Figure has said that songs, podcasts, and awards are $1.3million more important than the health and safety of skaters attending the #Stockholm2021 World Figure Skating Championships.#NoQuarantineNoWorlds #figureskating pic.twitter.com/ht30eIXqNT

— #NoQuarantineNoWorlds (@NoQuarNoWorlds) March 14, 2021

* The ISU replied to our 16 March questions at 18:32 on 19 March. You can read its response by clicking here.