2020 Rostelecom Cup

The 2020 Rostelecom Cup is a figure skating competition sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU). Organized and hosted by the Figure Skating Federation of Russia (Russian: Чемпионат России по фигурному катанию), it was the fifth event in the 2020–21 ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating: a senior-level international invitational competition series. It was held on 20–22 November at the Megasport Sport Palace in Moscow, Russia.^[1] Medals were awarded in men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dance. Skaters earned points based on their results, and the top skaters or teams in each discipline were invited to then compete at the 2020–21 Grand Prix Final. All of the champions were from Russia: Mikhail Kolyada in the men's event, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva in the women's event, Aleksandra Boikova and Dmitrii Kozlovskii in the pairs event, and Victoria Sinitsina and Nikita Katsalapov in the ice dance event. However, the event became controversial after an apparent COVID-19 spread among attendees led to suggestions that it had been a superspreading event.

The ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating is a series of seven events sanctioned by the International Skating Union (ISU) and held during the autumn: six qualifying events and the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. This allows skaters to perfect their programs earlier in the season, as well as compete against the skaters with whom they will later compete at the World Championships. Skaters earn points based on their results in their respective competitions and the top skaters or teams in each discipline are invited to compete at the Grand Prix Final.^[2]

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a number of modifications were made to the structure of the 2020 Rostelecom Cup. The competitors consisted only of skaters from Russia, skaters already training in Russia, or skaters assigned there for geographic reasons.^[3]

The International Skating Union announced the preliminary assignments on 1 October 2020.^[4]

Men and women competing in single skating performed their short programs on Friday, 20 November.^[1] Lasting no more than 2 minutes 40 seconds,^[24] the short program had to include the following elements:

For men: one double or triple Axel; one triple or quadruple jump; one jump combination consisting of a double jump and a triple jump, two triple jumps, or a quadruple jump and a double jump or triple jump; one flying spin; one camel spin or sit spin with a change of foot; one spin combination with a change of foot; and a step sequence using the full ice surface.^[25]

For women: one double or triple Axel; one triple jump; one jump combination consisting of a double jump and a triple jump, or two triple jumps; one flying spin; one layback spin or sideways leaning spin without a change of foot; one spin combination with a change of foot; and one step sequence using the full ice surface.^[26]

Men and women performed their free skates on Saturday, 21 November.^[1] The free skate could last no more than 4 minutes,^[24] and had to include the following: seven jump elements, of which one had to be an Axel-type jump; three spins, of which one had to be a spin combination, one a flying spin, and one a spin with only one position; a step sequence; and a choreographic sequence.^[27]

Couples competing in pair skating first performed their short programs on Friday, 20 November.^[1] Lasting no more than 2 minutes 40 seconds,^[24] the short program had to include the following elements: one pair lift, one double or triple twist lift, one double or triple throw jump, one double or triple solo jump, one solo spin combination with a change of foot, one death spiral, and a step sequence using the full ice surface.^[28]

Couples performed their free skates on Saturday, 21 November.^[1] The free skate could last no more than 4 minutes,^[24] and had to include the following: three pair lifts, one twist lift, two different throw jumps, one solo jump, one jump combination or sequence, one pair spin combination, one death spiral, and a choreographic sequence.^[29]

Couples competing in ice dance performed their rhythm dances on Friday, 20 November.^[1] Lasting no more than 2 minutes 50 seconds,^[24] the required theme of the rhythm dance this season was music from musicals or operettas, utilizing any of the following rhythms: quickstep, blues, march, polka, foxtrot, swing, Charleston, or waltz. The required pattern dance element was the Finnstep. The rhythm dance had to include the following elements: one section of the Finnstep skated to either the quickstep, Charleston, or swing; one pattern dance type step sequence, one pattern dance in hold or not touching, one short lift, and one set of sequential twizzles.^[30]

Couples performed their free dances on Saturday, 21 November.^[1] The free dance could last no longer than 4 minutes,^[24] and had to include the following: three short lifts or one short lift and one combination lift, one dance spin, one set of synchronized twizzles, one step sequence in hold, one step sequence while on one skate and not touching, and three choreographic elements.^[30]

All of the technical elements in any figure skating performance – such as jumps, spins, and lifts – were assigned a predetermined base point value and then scored by a panel of nine judges on a scale from –3 to +3 based on their quality of execution.^[31] The judging panel's Grade of Execution (GOE) was determined by calculating the trimmed mean (the average after discarding the highest and lowest scores), and this GOE was added to the base value to come up with the final score for each element. The panel's scores for all elements were added together to generate a total elements score.^[32] At the same time, the judges evaluated each performance based on five program components – skating skills, transitions, performance, composition, and interpretation of the music/timing – and assigned a score from 0.25 to 10 in 0.25-point increments. The judging panel's final score for each program component was also determined by calculating the trimmed mean. Those scores were then multiplied by the factor shown on the following chart; the results were added together to generate a total program component score.^[33]

Deductions were applied for certain violations like time infractions, stops and restarts, or falls.^[34] The total elements score and total program component score were added together, minus any deductions, to generate a final performance score for each skater or team.^[35]

Anna Shcherbakova of Russia withdrew from the competition prior to the short program due to illness.^[38]

The 2020 Rostelecom Cup became controversial after an apparent COVID-19 spread among attendees.^[42] Despite some precautionary measures being taken, the organizers of the Rostelecom Cup, as with many other Russian domestic competitions during the season, came under criticism for allowing a large audience and an insufficient enforcement of mandates regarding social distancing and proper mask usage.^[43] A focal point of criticism was the decision to hold the traditional post-competition banquet where many skaters were documented not socially distancing at all, as well as sharing food from a communal buffet.^[42] Several Russian skaters who competed at the event reported contracting the virus in the weeks afterward, including Dmitri Aliev, Alena Kostornaia, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, Victoria Sinitsina, and Nikita Katsalapov.^[44][45] Estonian skater Eva-Lotta Kiibus also reported contracting COVID-19 at the event and was still suffering effects two months later.^[46]

Irina Rodnina, three-time Olympic champion for Russia in pair skating and member of the State Duma, strongly criticized the handling of the Rostelecom Cup and cited it as an example of the government needing to more aggressively fine people for non-compliance.^[42] After the event, when questioned by a journalist as to whether the Figure Skating Federation of Russia would be sanctioned over their disregard for safety protocols, Jan Dijkema, then-president of the ISU, acknowledged "the regrettable news about the situation involving positive test results for COVID-19," but denied that the ISU would take responsibility, citing the semi-domestic nature of the 2020–21 Grand Prix series.^[43]

• "Special Regulations & Technical Rules – Single & Pair Skating and Ice Dance 2018". International Skating Union. Archived from the original on 17 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.