The ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2022 have been moved to Estonia after China pulled out of hosting the competition earlier this year ©Getty Images

The International Skating Union (ISU) Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2022 have been moved from China to Estonia, the ISU Council has confirmed.

The Championships, initially scheduled to take place from January 17 to 22 2022 in Tianjin, were cancelled earlier this year after the Chinese Figure Skating Association informed the ISU it would be unable to host the event due to COVID-19 restrictions. 

Many international competitions in Asia have been cancelled or postponed as a result of more stringent travel restrictions in the countries.

Following the event's cancellation, the ISU Council invited ISU Four Continents figure skating members to submit applications to replace China as host. 

No applications were received, but after consultation with the Estonian Skating Union, at an ISU Council meeting in Geneva on October 1 and 2, the Council agreed to move the event to the week following the ISU European Figure Skating Championships, which are currently due to take place from January 10 to 16 2022.

Both events will be hosted at the Tondiraba Ice Hall in Tallinn in Estonia.

The ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2022 will now take place from January 18 to 23.

The Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing is set to host figure skating competition at the Winter Olympics, which begin less than two weeks after the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2022 were initially scheduled for ©Getty Images
The Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing is set to host figure skating competition at the Winter Olympics, which begin less than two weeks after the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships 2022 were initially scheduled for ©Getty Images

At the ISU Council meeting, it was also announced Orléans in France would host the 2023-2024 ISE Grand Prix Final from December 7 to 10 2023.

Applications were also opened to host the ISU Grand Prix Final for the 2022-2023 season, scheduled to take place from December 8 to 11 2022.

China is set to host the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics next year, beginning on February 4.

Tianjin is approximately 130 kilometres from Beijing, with the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships initially scheduled for less than two weeks before the Olympics get underway.

The Cup of China, one of six regular-season ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating legs and set for Chongqing in November, was also cancelled earlier this season due to COVID-19 restrictions.