International Skating Union
The International Skating Union (ISU) is the international governing body for competitive ice skating disciplines, including figure skating, synchronized skating, speed skating, and short track speed skating. It was founded in Scheveningen, The Netherlands in 1892, making it, according to the history on its official web site, the oldest governing international winter sport federation. The ISU was formed to establish standardized international rules and regulations for the skating disciplines it governs, and to organize international competitions in these disciplines. It is now based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
As of the 2004/2005 season, members of the ISU included: Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Puerto Rico, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, U.S.A., Uzbekistan
Dates and locations of first world championships in various disciplines held under the auspices of the ISU:
- 1893: Speed skating (men only), Amsterdam
- 1896: Figure skating (men only), St. Petersburg
- 1906: Figure skating (ladies), Davos
- 1908: Figure skating (pairs), St. Petersburg
- 1936: Speed skating (women), Stockholm
- 1952: Ice dance (figure skating), Paris
- 1970: Sprint speed skating, West Allis, Wisconsin
- 1978: Short track speed skating, Solihull, UK
- 2000: Synchronized skating, Minneapolis