The ISU has appointed a four-person working group to make specific proposals on how to improve the world governing body’s governance record ©ISU

The International Skating Union (ISU) has appointed a four-person working group to make specific proposals on how to improve the world governing body’s governance record.

Mandated by the ISU Council during its meeting in Finland’s capital Helsinki, the working group has also been tasked with devising a sustainability and good governance survey and evaluation.

It is composed of four Council members, including coordinator Maria Teresa Samaranch of Spain, the daughter of former International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Juan Antonio.

The working group also comprises America's Patricia St. Peter, South Korea's Kim Jae Youl and Switzerland's Roland Maillard.

The Netherlands' Jan Dijkema hailed good governance as one of his three main priorities when elected President of the ISU in June last year.

Marketing and promoting the sport and development were also identified by the 72-year-old, who replaced Italian Ottavio Cinquanta in the top job. 

Among the other decisions taken by the Council was the approval the Grand Prix of Figure Skating calendar for the next two seasons.

Russia is due to host the first leg of the 2017 season from October 20 to 22, while Canada is scheduled to stage the second from October 27 to 29.

Action is then set to resume in China from November 3 to 5 and will be followed by events in Japan from November 10 to 12, France from November 17 to 19, and the United States from November 24 to 26.

The season’s finale will see Japan play host again from December 7 to 10.

The ISU Council approved the Grand Prix of Figure Skating calendar for the next two seasons ©Getty Images
The ISU Council approved the Grand Prix of Figure Skating calendar for the next two seasons ©Getty Images

Beginning the 2018 campaign will be meets in the United States from October 19 to 21 and Canada from October 26 to 28.

Canada will also host the final from December 6 to 9 following stops in China from November 2 to 4, Japan from November 9 to 11, France from November 16 to 18, and Russia from November 23 to 25.

The exact locations for each of the legs has yet to be confirmed.

The Council also granted provisional ISU membership, for the figure skating branch, to the Cambodia Ice Skating Federation.  

This will be effective as of May 12 this year. 

Further meetings of the Council are due to be held this year in Dutch capital Amsterdam, from June 2 to 4, and Lausanne in Switzerland, from October 15 to 17.