Media accreditation for the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2021 now open

The ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2021 at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm are just five weeks away and media accreditation has now opened. Due to the pandemic, accreditation looks different for these Championships, which are planned to be held behind closed doors and with a limited number of journalists at the venue. But the world’s top figure skaters will be here and a worldwide TV audience of more than 300 million will be following the fight for medals.

– A bubble concept will be implemented for competitors, trainers, and staff who work directly with the Championships. The health and safety of competitors is our top priority. Competitors will be tested and quarantined at the arena and the hotel at the arena complex, and will not be permitted to meet anyone outside the bubble. This also means that interviews with journalists will be conducted digitally - either at the arena or remotely, says Ulrika Molin, President Organizing Committee of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2021.

In recent months, the International Skating Union (ISU) and the Swedish Organizing Committee have worked intensively to ensure that media have extensive opportunities to cover the Championships - despite the pandemic. There will therefore be extremely strict guidelines for all those coming to the arena.

Consequently, there are two types of media accreditation available for those who wish to cover the Championships:

• A limited number of journalists and photographers will be granted accreditation to the arena. This does not grant access to the “bubble” and entails a number of restrictions.
• Remote accreditation holders will not have access to the arena, but will be able to follow the Championships virtually.

Details on accreditation are available here: https://isu.org/media-centre/accreditations/media/accreditations-figure-skating/25493-media-info-2021-ver5-1/file

Travelling to Sweden during the pandemic
It is up to individual members of the media to ensure that they have the right to enter the country, have the appropriate documentation, and take covid tests as required.

Travel restrictions are in place for a large number of countries, and the exemptions for athletes competing in international sporting events do not include members of the media covering competitions.

Updated information is available on the Swedish police’s website: https://polisen.se/en/the-swedish-police/the-coronavirus-and-the-swedish-police/travel-to-and-from-sweden/

Elite athletes and training staff participating in championship events are exempt from restrictions for travel to Sweden. These exemptions do not apply to journalists and photographers. The ISU and the Organizing Committee are not able to issue documentation. 

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

How many journalists will be granted accreditation to the arena?
We do not currently know the precise number, but there will be a limit of 50 per competition.

Is there a limit to the number of remote accreditations?
No, all active journalists may apply for remote accreditation.

What rules apply for travelling into Sweden?
The Swedish police updates the following information regularly (in English):
https://polisen.se/en/the-swedish-police/the-coronavirus-and-the-swedish-police/travel-to-and-from-sweden/

Elite athletes are exempt from travel bans. Are there any exemptions for journalists?
No, journalists and photographers covering championships DO NOT qualify for exemptions granted to elite athletes competing in international sporting events.