ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2013

The world’s attention will be focused on Calgary for seven important days March 20–26 as more than 200 of the sport’s best athletes compete for the top honours in men’s, ladies, pairs and ice dance.

Although the 2006 World Championships will include athletes who are at the conclusion of their careers it will also mark the beginning of the road to Vancouver for many athletes. These competitors may not yet be in the spotlight but they have their sights set on the Vancouver 2010 podium – Calgary is the beginning of their four-year journey.

This will be the second time Calgary has hosted the ISU World Figure Skating Championships and the ninth time the event has been held in Canada.

The ISU World Figure Skating Championships were first held in Calgary in 1972. Canada’s top placements that year came from Karen Magnussen, who won the silver medal, Toller Cranston, who placed fifth, Sandra and Val Bezic, who finished eighth in the pair event and Louise and Barry Soper, who placed ninth in the ice dance event.

Events will take place at the Pengrowth Saddledome and the historic Stampede Corral will serve as the practice arena. More than 200,000 spectators are expected to attend. There will be 14,000 seats available for 14 ticketed events including practices and the Exhibition. The world-wide television audience is estimated to be 150,000,000 people.