Figure skating: ISU weathers economic slowdown

Ottavio Cinquanta downplayed the effects of the global economic crisis on figure skating, saying gains in Asia would help offset declining revenues from television and sponsors in other regions.

International Skating Union (ISU) president Ottavio Cinquanta, seen here in 2007, smiles while delivering a speech during a press conference on the first day of the World Figure Skating Championships 2007 in Tokyo. Cinquanta downplayed the effects of the global economic crisis on figure skating, saying gains in Asia would help offset declining revenues from television and sponsors.

The Italian president of the International Skating Union said Friday he was disappointed to see that no American broadcaster chose to show Wednesday's men's final live on television.

"The golden moment for television sponsorship is over," said Cinquanta. "But the ISU is satisfied we can keep a certain speed.

"The situation here (United States) may not be good for TV but in Asia it is still good."

Figure skating's popularity has waned in the North America in recent years. NBC chose not to show the Wednesday's men's final live on TV and Canadian national broadcaster CBC announced Thursday it was cutting back on its figure skating coverage as part of a overall cost cutting plan.

"If last night's event was not live on TV it is not the ISU's fault," Cinquanta said. "We asked for it.

"If figure skating is going down in TV in this country we are sorry but the standard is very high.

"We are improving the quality. If it is not acceptable by the market what can we do? We are not a marketing company.

"We are not perfect but we are in good shape."

He said the sport's popularity is growing in Asia, which has produced some of the top female skaters in recent years like South Korea's Kim Yu-Na and Japan's Mao Asada.

Cinquanta also said he plans to reduce the number of competitors at the Worlds from the current 216 from 52 countries by establishing tough new qualifying standards.

"This is a championship it is not a festival," he said.