VIII. Gay Games Cologne 2010

Dates of Event
Sunday, 1 August - Thursday, 5 August 2010 

Venue
Sporthalle KoelnArena II, Gummersbacher Strasse 4, 50679 Cologne-Deutz (3.2 km from Neumarkt) www.haie.de
 

Transportation
Take tram 1 or 9, S-Bahn or regional trains to Station "Messe/Deutz",  or use tram 3 or 4 to station "Bahnhof Deutz/Koelnarena"  (5 min. from Neumarkt, 8 minutes on foot)
for more detailed directions click here.

Categories and Divisions of Competition
 

Age Classes (valid for all Categories)

Competitions:
Solo Creative Free Skate (F, M)
Solo Artistic Skate (F, M)
Solo Spotlight (F, M)
Couples Artistic Free Skate (F/F, F/M, M/M)
Ice Dancing (Solo, F/F, F/M, M/M)
Free Dance (F/F, F/M, M/M)
Interpretive/Improvisation
Production Team


There will be the showcase performance "Fabolous on Ice" on August 5, 2010. See more information here.
       

Rules
The figure skating tournaments will be performed according to the rules of the Ice Skating Institute (ISI) www.skateisi.org and the International Gay Figure Skating Union (IGFSU) www.igfsu.org (English) or www.fabulous-cup.de (German)
 

Participation
All participants in the figure skating competition must hold valid Individual Memberships in the ISI and have completed all required ISI Tests, and be prepared to show results of these tests.Couples figure skating and ice dancing competitors will be placed in the higher age class or experience level of the two competitors. The competition administrators reserve the right to either combine or further sub-divide categories.  For exact descriptions of competition elements or requirements, please consult the ISI Skater's Handbook, Competitor's Handbook and Judging Manual, or contact us. 
  

SOLO CREATIVE FREE SKATE

Focus / Content: 
A Solo Creative Free Skate program should be a balanced mixture of figure skating technical ability and creative, innovative elements. Focus should be placed on body positions, flow, music interpretation, rhythm and choreography. Classification is based on ISI Freestyle tests.

Music / Props:
Music containing vocals is allowed.  Props or items which are not secured to the costume such as chairs, canes, dolls, etc. are not allowed.

Judging Criteria:
Technical merit, creativity, choreography and pattern, costume, musical interpretation and rhythm, flow, posture and carriage and duration.

Elements / Music length:
There are no compulsory elements, however elements may only be performed if they are within the corresponding ISI Freestyle level. Elements not covered in the ISI classification tests are allowed within all levels. These include, for example, spiral, spread eagle, step sequence. Depending on registration of participants, some groups may be combined by competition administrators. Maximum music lengths are shown below in minutes. There is no penalty for skating under the prescribed duration.
 

SOLO ARTISTIC SKATE

Focus / Content: 
In this category, the program should be characterized by a creative and innovative composition.  Focus should be placed on strong edges, body positions, flow, music interpretation, rhythm, and choreography.  This competition is open to all skaters who have achieved level Freestyle 1 or higher based on the ISI  Freestyle test.  There are no compulsory elements and no pure technical scoring.
 

Music / Props:
Music containing vocals is allowed.  Props, or items which are not secured to the costume such as chairs, canes, dolls, etc. are not allowed. 
 

Judging Criteria:
Artistic impression, choreography and pattern, innovative moves, music interpretation and rhythm, edges and flow, posture and carriage, duration, and general overall. 
 

Elements / Music length: 
There are no compulsory elements and no restrictions on the elements performed.   Depending on registration of participants, some groups may be combined by competition administrators.  Maximum music lengths are shown below in minutes. There is no penalty for skating under the prescribed duration. 
 

 
 
SOLO SPOTLIGHT

Focus / Content:
There are no required maneuvers in Spotlight events. Emphasis is placed on the theatrical and entertainment value of the skater's performance rather than on the technical accuracy of specific maneuvers. There is no score for technical merit. The three categories of Spotlight events include Character, Dramatic and Light Entertainment and these will be combined at this competition. This category is open to all skaters of all levels. Classification is based on ISI Freestyle test results. There are no compulsory elements in this category. 
 

Music / Props: 
Music with vocals is allowed.  Props which do not damage the ice are allowed.  Props such as glitter, foam, water and smoke are not allowed, as well as living props. 
 

Judging Criteria:
Costume and/or prop, duration, judges appeal, music and choreography and originality.
 

Elements / Music length:
There are no required elements, however there are limitations to the elements that may be performed at certain levels and these are indicated below. Elements not covered in the ISI classification tests are allowed within all levels (see Solo Creative Free Skate). These include, for example, spiral, spread eagle, step sequence. Depending on registration of participants, some groups may be combined by competition administrators. Maximum music lengths are shown below in minutes. There is no penalty for skating under the prescribed duration. 
 

COUPLES ARTISTIC FREE SKATE

Level / Age Classes:
Each couple will compete in the level corresponding to the highest test completed by the skaters. Levels are based on ISI Freestyle tests. The age class for each couple is determined by the age of the oldest skater. Couples may consist of two women, two men, or one woman and one man.


Focus / Content:
There are no required moves. Emphasis should be placed on constructing a skating program that is a balance of creative and innovative design and technical ability. Focus should be placed on strong edges, body positions, flow, music interpretation, rhythm, unison and choreography.
 

Music / Props: 
Music containing vocals is allowed.  Props, or items which are not secured to the costume such as chairs, canes, dolls, etc. are not allowed. 
 

Judging Criteria:
Artistic impression, choreography and pattern, innovative moves, music interpretation and rhythm, edges and flow, posture and carriage, duration, unison and technical merit. 
 

Elements / Music Length:
Though there are no required elements, the most advanced elements at each level are the same as those of the Solo Creative Free Skate. Elements not covered in the ISI classification tests are allowed within all levels (see Solo Creative Free Skate). These include, for example, spiral, spread eagle, step sequence. Depending on registration of participants, some groups may be combined by competition administrators.  Maximum music lengths are shown below in minutes. There is no penalty for skating under the prescribed duration. 
 

FREE DANCE

Level / Age Classes: 
Each team will compete in the level corresponding to the highest test completed. Classification is based on the ISI Free Dance tests.  The age class for each team is determined by the age of the oldest skater. Teams may be made up of either two women, two men, or one woman and one man. 
 

Focus / Content: 
The team should present a program combining original and compulsory ice dance steps.  The program should display the pair's technical and athletic ability, as well the expressive powers of dance aesthetics.  Any rhythm may be used, and changes in rhythm are allowed.
 

Music / Props: 
Music containing vocals is allowed.  Props, or items which are not secured to the costume such as chairs, canes, dolls, etc. are not allowed. 
 

Judging Criteria:
Correctness, duration, interpretation, pattern, position, posture, timing and unison.
 

Elements / Music length:
For recommended and compulsory elements, please refer to the ISI Free Dance test and rulebook. Depending on registration of participants, some groups may be combined by competition administrators. Maximum music lengths are shown below in minutes. There is no penalty for skating under the prescribed duration.
 

 
COMPULSORY DANCE / SOLO COMPULSORY DANCE

Levels / Age Classes:
Each team will compete in the level corresponding to the highest test completed. Classification is based on the ISI Ice Dancing tests. The age class for each team is determined by the age of the oldest skater. Teams may be made up of either two women, two men, or one woman and one man. 
 

Music / Compulsory Dances: 
The dances for each category will be determined and announced beforehand.  These dances will be performed for both the solo and partnered Ice Dancing. Use of ice, steps, speed, and positions of each compulsory dance are described in the ISI guidebook.  Those requiring more information on the compulsory dances are asked to send their questions. Compulsory Dance 1 and 2 contain required step sequences and compulsory dances.  There is a maximum of 7 introductory steps before beginning the execution of a compulsory dance.  

Judging Criteria:
Correctness, interpretation, pattern, position, posture, timing and unison.

INTERPRETIVE / IMPROVISATION 

This event puts every skater, beginner or experienced, to a new challege - entering the ice and performing to music you have only listened to just before lacing your boots! Skaters should interpret the music, its character and theme. Skaters in each group have the opportunity to hear the music 4 times, 2 times on the ice, 2 times off ice, before performing. To create a fair and equal challenge for each skater, competitiors will wait in a secluded area for their turn so that no skaters will see what the previous skaters have performed. Skaters must make up their performance on the ice and may not receive any kind of assistance during the competition.
 
Emphasis/Focus
Focus should be placed on the choreography reflecting the music, its theme and character. Creativity and individual moves will receive higher scoring. There is no Technical Merit score so elements will only be judged on how well they suit the music, not on their level of difficulty.
 
Elements/Props
There are no required elements. At all levels, all spins and uncaptured moves are permitted. For Pre-Alpha through Freestyle 4 any single rotation jump is permitted including Axel and Split jumps. For Freestyle 5 through 10 single and double rotation jumps are permitted. Triple jumps are not permitted. The penalty for not following the limitation on elements will be a score of 2.0 under correctness.
Props are not allowed. 

Judging Criteria
Artistic Impression, choreography and pattern, correctness, creativity, musical interpretation, posture and carriage. 
 

Level                                       Duration

Pre Alpha - Delta                     1:00 min
Freestyle 1 - 4                          1:00 min
Freestyle 5 - 10                        1:30 min

PRODUCTION TEAM

Levels / Age Classes: 
A Production Team may consist of 8-32 skaters, from all age classes and technical levels.  All teams will compete in one category/level. ISI tests are not required.
 

Focus / Content:
The team program should be a creative and artistic performance marked by extreme freedom of style, structure and costumes to illustrate a theme, mood or statement. Any and all types of skating maneuvers are permitted including jumps and spins. Maximum music lengths are shown below in minutes. There is no penalty for skating under the prescribed duration. 
 

Music / Props: 
Music with vocals is allowed.  Props which do not damage the ice are allowed.  Props such as glitter, foam, water and smoke are not allowed, as well as living props. 
 

Equipment:
All skaters must submit the music for each of other their programs on separate audio CD or MDs labelled with the skater's name and event at the time of registration. Each CD or MD may contain one track only. All competitors should carry duplicate CD or MDs of their program music with them at all times. Music for Compulsory Ice Dances will be provided. 
 

Services
Food service is available at the venue.
Skate maintenance and blade sharpening will not be provided at the venue. 
 

First-Aid
First-aid stations and paramedics will be available 
 

Tickets
Tickets for spectators will be available for purchase. More information will be provided later. 
 

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