Empowering Young Skaters through Anti-Doping Education: Highlights of the 2023-24 “Pure as Ice” Campaign
16 Apr 2024
The first ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating event of the season 2023/24, held in Baselga di Piné (ITA), and the ISU World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships 2024 in Gdansk (POL) were not only platforms for showcasing athletic talent but also to introduce Junior Skaters to the values of Clean Sports. The ISU “Pure as Ice” campaign delivered this season its famous outreach program where Junior Skaters were invited to learn the fundamentals of Anti-Doping education.
In Baselga di Piné, more than 127 skaters from 19 national teams, including Kazakhstan, Finland, Hungary, Portugal, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, Poland, Sweden, Japan, Spain, Australia, South Korea, China, Belgium, Ukraine, Colombia, and the USA, participated in the seminar on Clean Sports Basics. This seminar engaged participants in interactive sessions and even included a Kahoot! Quiz to reinforce key learnings on the testing processes, Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) and Supplements.
Pure as Ice photo booth at the 2023 ISU Junior World Cup Speed Skating in Baselga di Piné (ITA)
Similarly in Gdansk, more than 73 skaters representing 16 national teams, including Norway, Singapore, Great Britain, Italy, Austria, Poland, South Korea, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Canada, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Croatia, and Turkey, attended the Clean Sports Basics seminar. Through interactive activities, participants gained insights into the significance of testing processes and Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE).
Pure as Ice photo booth at the 2024 ISU World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Gdansk (POL)
Moreover, at the ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships in Neuchatel (SUI), the Clean Sports Basics workshop drew an impressive attendance of more than 196 skaters from 11 countries, including Italy, France, Spain, Sweden, Great Britain, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Hungary, Australia, Finland, and Switzerland.
Pure as Ice photo booth at the 2024 ISU World Junior Synchronized Skating Championships in Neuchâtel (SUI)
On this occasion, not only the artistic as well as technical performances of young skaters were celebrated but also the importance of ethical conduct and integrity in sports.
In collaboration with CCES Canada, a fourth educational outreach program was conducted during the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Montreal (CAN) and a fifth one during the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships in Taipei City (TPE) in collaboration with the Chinese Taipei Anti-Doping Agency.
As the legacy of the “Pure as Ice” campaign continues to resonate, the future of sports lies in the hands of athletes who embrace integrity and want to skate as pure as ice.
For further information about the ISU “Pure as Ice” initiative, visit the webpage here.
