Russian skaters perform to Ukrainian composer's melody at China Grand Prix
The first leg of the new ISU Junior Grand Prix figure skating season began in China on Aug. 20.
On August 20, the inaugural ISU Junior Grand Prix figure skating season commenced in China. The International Skating Union had previously cleared Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete internationally under neutral status. Russian ice dance duo Mariia Fefelova and Artem Valov made their return to the sport at this event. They performed to a unique fusion of Vivaldi's V for Vivaldi and Tomme Profitt's instrumental rendition of Carol of the Bells, inspired by Mykola Leontovych's Ukrainian composition Shchedryk.
The pair, trained by French choreographer Benoit Richaud, marked their first major international competition since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The International Olympic Committee had previously recommended lifting restrictions on Russian athletes, and the IOC did so on July 7, restoring the Russian Olympic Committee's membership.
However, Ukraine's National Olympic Committee has appealed this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Written by urgent.news from New Voice of Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
