URGENT PETITION: LET THE SKATERS SKATE!

[Hanca]

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-major

Please, 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]

[beginner skater]

Only 150 odd signatures so far, it seems very unfair, I hope it goes viral. Hanca, do let us know when it goes on facebook

[riley876]

Cue French Castle scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey0wvGiAH9g 

But seriously, can't these skaters just skate under a French banner, and get on with it?

Or are the German, Russian & Hungarian federations playing exactly the same game from the other side?

In which case, why not petition them as well?

[AgnesNitt]

Didier Gailhauget, the meanest little *** in figure skating. Don't forget he was banned by the ISU for 3 years, so no love lost there.

[Hanca]

It is on facebook. 

The Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/Let-The-Skaters-Skate-379995545540801/timeline/

On the Facebook there are also translations of the petition in various languages if you need to post it in a different language.

If you can, please spread the word! Ask your family and friends to sign it. It is so unfair towards the skaters! You can post the link to the petition to your wall on your facebook, and send it to all your friends who may be willing to sign it.

The petition:
https://www.change.org/p/ottavio-cinquanta-isu-didier-gailhaguet-ffsg-let-the-skaters-skate-savchenko-massot-zahorski-guerreiro-and-elizabeth-major

Thank you very much for your help! 

[Hanca]

Cue French Castle scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey0wvGiAH9g 

But seriously, can't these skaters just skate under a French banner, and get on with it?

Or are the German, Russian & Hungarian federations playing exactly the same game from the other side?

In which case, why not petition them as well?

I think they want to skate for the country who can support them better. You can't blame them; being an elite skater is very expensive. Also, to be able to compete at Olympics, both partners need citizenship of the country they represent.
Some countries give you citizenship quicker than others. France is not particularly quick with handing out citizenships, and Massot missed the previous Olympics because his previous partner (Popova) did not get French citizenship in time. So you can't blame Aliona that she is not willing to take that chance. If she misses this coming Olympics, she will be too old to wait another four years. This is her last chance.

[Hanca]

Only 150 odd signatures so far, it seems very unfair, I hope it goes viral. Hanca, do let us know when it goes on facebook

It was the first day the petition was posted. Now we are at 1426. But we still need more...

[Hanca]

1,500!!! We are doing well, but we still need more, if we want to make a difference. Thank you very much to anyone who signed!!!!!