ISU clears use of Tchaikovsky music as anthem by Russian figure skaters
In line with the CAS ruling as of December 17, 2020, Russia's national anthem and flag have been banned from international sports tournaments for two years
MOSCOW, February 12. /TASS/. The International Skating Union (ISU) has no objections to the use of a musical piece from Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 by Russian figure skaters at the World Championship next month, a source close to the situation told TASS on Friday.
Earlier in the day, the Russian Figure Skating Federation (RFSF) suggested a musical piece from Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 to the International Skating Union for use at award ceremonies for Russian athletes during the 2021 World Figure Skating Championship. The championship is scheduled to be held in Sweden’s Stockholm between March 22 and 28.
"The ISU has no objections to this music," the source said. "Moreover, the Russian national speed skating team is already competing to the tune of Tchaikovsky."
Earlier this week, Varvara Barysheva, the executive director of the Russian Speed Skating Union, told TASS that a musical piece from Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 will be played during the medal ceremonies for Russian athletes at the Speed Skating and Short Track World Championships.
The 2021 World Single Distances Speed Skating Championship is held in Heerenveen, the Netherlands, between February 11 and 14. The 2021 World Short Track Speed Skating Championship will be held on March 5-7 in Dordrecht, the Netherlands.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland’s Lausanne partially upheld on December 17 WADA’s (the World Anti-Doping Agency) previous ruling on a number of sanctions against Russian sports.
According to the CAS decision as of December 17, 2020, Russian athletes are deprived of the right to participate in all world championships and Olympic and Paralympic Games under the national flag of Russia for a two-year period.
The national anthem of Russia was also ruled out to be played at international sport tournaments in the course of the next two years, including at the upcoming Olympic Games in Japan this year.
The ruling of the Swiss-based court also stripped Russia of the right to bid for the organization of all international sports tournaments for the period of two years. WADA’s sanctions will be in force until December 2022.