The global celebration of ice skating will reach new heights on December 15, 2024, as Budapest’s iconic City Park Ice Rink – Europe’s largest outdoor ice-skating venue – hosts the spectacular Main Event for World Ice Skating Day (WISD) 2024. This landmark occasion will bring together skaters, fans, and communities from around the world for a day of fun, performance, and unity on the ice.

Budapest: The Heart of WISD 2024

 Set against the stunning backdrop of City Park, Budapest will serve as the vibrant hub for WISD 2024, offering a breathtaking location for the Main Event. The rink, spanning over 12,000 square meters, will be a celebration of skating for all ages and abilities, providing a unique space for both seasoned athletes and beginners to join in the festivities.

Hungary's selection as the host city is a well-deserved honor, following its recognition as the recipient of the Best World Ice Skating Day Award in 2023. This accolade celebrated the country's outstanding efforts to promote skating as an inclusive and community-driven activity, with innovative events that resonated across the global skating community.

A Day to Remember: Performances, Workshops, and Family Fun

The Main Event will feature dazzling performances from top skaters, interactive workshops, family-friendly activities, and opportunities for people of all abilities to take to the ice. Budapest’s rich cultural heritage and the charm of its City Park Ice Rink make it the perfect location to celebrate skating’s ability to connect people worldwide. Mr. Lajos Kósa, President of the Hungarian National Skating Federation , is thrilled that Budapest is in the center of the WISD celebrations ‘ Hosting the World Ice Skating Day ’Main Event 2024’ in Budapest is an honor that brings people together to celebrate the beauty and joy of skating. From beginners to Olympians, we are proud to create a central space at the beautiful City Park Ice Rink in Budapest, where the love for ice skating connects people through shared moments of the fun and love of skating. On 15 December, we celebrate not just the sport, but the global community that makes it so special’

 

Best World Ice Skating Day Awards 2024

As part of the celebrations, the ISU is inviting rinks, clubs, associations, and federations around the world to participate in the Best World Ice Skating Day 2024 awards. To be eligible, organizers must:                                                                                                     

1. Be a rink / club / association / federation and register your event on the WISD website.
2. Offer programs / initiation sessions for the children / young adults
3. Feature the WISD branding throughout their venue

The WISD organizers will be evaluated across three categories, with winners in each category receiving prize money as follows:

1. Best WISD Organizer (with more than 500 persons in attendance) – USD 5000
2. Best WISD Organizer (with less than 500 persons in attendance) – USD 3000
3. Best #WISDance 2024 Choreography - USD 3000

The contest will start running after the WISD has taken place on December 15, 2024. To participate, the ISU invites WISD organizers to check the below requirements and submit the necessary information to contact@worldiceskatingday.com.

Step 1: Detailed report of the WISD activities at your venue/ice rink/club with the following elements:

• Overview of activities undertaken during your WISD event(s)
• Total number of attending participants 
• Usage of WISD Branding toolkit at your event(s)
• Promotional efforts undertaken. 
  1. Advertisement and promotional activities through print media, social media, TV/Radio networks, collaboration with influencers / skaters / celebrities, etc.
• Social media analytics and insights 
  1. Digital reach, likes, impressions, retweets, engagement rate, etc.
• Creativity 
  1. Use of out of the box ideas to make your WISD event(s) stand out from the rest
• A video of the participants doing the 2024 #WISDance signature dance move 
  1. The link to download the choreography can be found here
• A short note on what made your WISD event(s) special.

Step 2: A Dropbox / WeTransfer / Google Drive link containing the images and videos of your WISD

Step 3: IMPORTANT - Please provide all the above information to contact@worldiceskatingday.com

Application deadlines: 

• February 16, 2025: Last date to submit your reports and images/videos folder
• March 16, 2025: Announcement of the “Best WISD 2024” Award winners 

Like the previous editions, the ISU is providing a support fee up to USD 3'000.- to the first 25 ISU Members who register on the WISD website and apply for this provision through contact@worldiceskatingday.com. The priority for this support fee will be given to ISU Members in countries where skating is at a developmental stage, where skating is not really popular, and those countries which don’t have enough access to skating related infrastructure. The provision of this Support fee shall be based on the above criteria and is at the ISU’s discretion. 

World Ice Skating Day - Event By International Skating Union

World Ice Skating Day -  a global ice skating festival, arriving at an ice rink near you. Our disciplines include: Speed, Short Track, Figure & Synchronized Skating.

(Learn the #WISDance 2024 steps choregraphed by Indonesia & ISU © ISU)

 A Truly Global Celebration

While Budapest will serve as the epicenter of WISD 2024, celebrations will span the globe, with events hosted in communities large and small. From local ice rinks to grand arenas, WISD brings together skaters, fans, and newcomers to share in the universal joy of gliding across the ice. World Ice Skating Day continues to grow as a movement, fostering inclusivity, physical fitness, and community connections through the art and sport of skating.

Celebrate the passion, artistry, and unity of skating this December. Whether in Budapest or your local rink, join the movement and share the joy of World Ice Skating Day!