Shanghai "Grand Prix" is good idea, but difficult, says ISU

Vice president of the ISU Jan Dijkema said on Sunday that he agreed with the idea of Shanghai Trophy enlarging its scale to conclude all short track speedskating and figure skating events, but he admitted it would be very difficult to realize.

The inaugural International Skating Union (ISU) Shanghai Trophy, which was concluded here on Sunday night, is a skating tournament combining short track speedskating and synchronized skating. It is the first time that both short track speedskating and figure skating events were held at the same event.

However, it is not enough. According to Huang Yongping, director of the Shanghai Sports Bureau, the city wants to enlist more events in the tournament.

"We want to invite top figure skaters in the world to the tournament, all of them, in singles, doubles and ice dance," said Huang, "We want Shanghai Trophy to become a 'Grand Prix' of skating, include all the events of short track speedskating and figure skating."

Jan Dijkema applauded the "Grand Prix" idea but he said it is difficult.

"It is a good idea, but it is not easy in the schedule, we have full schedules both in short track and figure skating," Jan Dijkema told Xinhua, "Only combining short track and synchronized skating has been difficult enough, you can imagine how difficult to combine all these events together,"

"I can't make full statement yet, there is no decision, but it is a good idea for the future. It is a long-term idea to develop the Shanghai Trophy. We want Shanghai Trophy to become a preliminary event for the future, but how to realize it we have to discuss," said Jan Dijkema.

Shanghai Trophy is the first time that the ISU has called a tournament after a city's name, it is also the first time that an International Mixed Relay takes place at an ISU event. Endit