URGENT PETITION: LET THE SKATERS SKATE!
Many skating fans know that the exciting new pairs team of Aliona Savchenko-Bruno Massot is stuck in skating limbo because the French federation will not release Bruno. However, Massot is not the only one. Right now, at least three new partnerships that involve country changes are in jeopardy for the same reason, and the ISU refuses to intervene or let the skaters use another ISU process to free themselves. The other two cases involve the ice dance teams of Tiffany Zahorski-Jonathan Guerreiro (who want to skate for Russia) and Estelle Elizabeth-Balazs Major (who want to skate for Hungary). In all three cases, the new country is ready and eager to accept the new partnership.
Currently Tiffany, Bruno and Estelle cannot compete or perform in any competitions or shows. Basically they are being denied all and every means of continuing their skating careers. As the ISU does not have any time limit, FFSG can deny the release permit indefinitely. This would mean that their skating careers could be brought to a premature end, after all their dreams, their years of training, and the huge sums that they and their families have invested in their careers.
So we are asking for your support in fighting this injustice. A few fans have created a petition called “Let the Skaters Skate.” It is addressed to both the ISU and the French Federation. We believe that with good will and with the skaters’ best interests at heart, the obstacles to these three partnerships can be overcome. Please sign our petition.
https://www.change.org/p/ottavio-cinquanta-isu-didier-gailhaguet-ffsg-let-the-skaters-skate-savchenko-massot-zahorski-guerreiro-and-elizabeth-majorPlease, note that this petition was done by a small ad hoc group of fans, calling ourselves International Friends of Figure Skating, who have been following the skaters’ stories on skating forums. We are not a formal organization in any way and have no future plans. This petition is not political or personal; it is just that the skaters need to be freed to be able to continue their international skating careers. For more information you can email to
friendsoffigureskating@gmail.com. Let the Skaters Skate will be on Facebook soon and you can follow us on Twitter, @IntlFriendsFS. Please use our hashtag, #LetTheSkatersSkate. Spread the word!
[Mod Edit: Moved to Media forum]