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U.S. Nationals cancelled out of 'inequity in team training opportunities'


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Teams Elite juniors - USA (Credits: Ru-Pho - 2020)

The 2021 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships and Challenge were set for Feb. 23-27 in Las Vegas, but the board of directors decided to cancel the event due to COVID-19 pandemic.

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"With continued national uncertainty regarding the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the inequity in team training opportunities due to reduced capacity limiting team and group activities, the Board of Directors has supported the decision of the Competitions Committee’s synchronized skating sub-committee to cancel the 2021 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships and Challenge," wrote U.S. Figure Skating on Wednesday.

Scheduled for Feb. 23-27 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, the event should have been an open event for all qualifying level teams. 

Everything had been done to maintain this event of great importance for synchro teams.

Two months ago, U.S. Figure Skating had approved an updated structure for the 2020-21 synchronized skating season to "accommodate all levels and varying restrictions due to the impact of COVID-19". The goal of this updated format was to "provide competitive opportunities for teams at every level in various geographic regions".

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But the COVID situation in the United States does not currently allow to organize such an event and the U.S. teams face unequal treatment in the possibility of training. 

It is unclear how or if this will impact the rest of the synchro season, which had already been pared down from its original format. The International Skating Union ISU should announce very soon new decisions regarding the 2021 World Championships.

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