The figure skating department of the National Winter Sports Center of Turkmenistan has received full membership in the International Skating Union (ISU). The corresponding decision was made at the meeting of the ISU Council held in Geneva (Switzerland).
Since 2019, Turkmenistan has been an associate member of the International Skating Union, which did not give him the right to vote at the annual meetings of the ISU. With the admission to full membership of this organization, Turkmenistan got the opportunity to vote at the ISU Congress and nominate candidates for positions, according to the popular publication Inside the Games.
Undoubtedly, this ISU decision will become a powerful stimulus in the development of national figure skating, which has been cultivated in Turkmenistan since the opening of the first Ice Palace in Ashgabat in 2006. To date, there are five ice arenas in Turkmenistan - one in Avaza and four in Ashgabat, the largest of which can accommodate 10,000 spectators.
ISU is the largest international organization governing the skating sports: figure skating, speed skating and short track. It was founded in 1892. To date, members of the organization, whose headquarters is located in Lausanne (Switzerland), are 80 countries.