The International Skating Union (ISU) was founded in 1892 and is the oldest governing international winter sport federation.
During the last half of the nineteenth century, informal international competitions in both Speed Skating and Figure Skating were organized occasionally in different parts of the world. The first modern Speed Skating competition was held in Norway in 1863 and the first major International Speed Skating race was held in Hamburg (GER) in 1885. In 1882, the first International Figure Skating competition took place in Vienna (AUT).
With the emergence of international competitions, in both Speed Skating and Figure Skating, as well as the forming of skating clubs and of national associations, the need to establish international standards to govern these sports became more and more apparent. In July 1892, the Dutch association took the lead in calling for a meeting of representatives of all countries interested in international ice skating competitions. As a result, the first Congress convened in Scheveningen (NED) and the ISU was created. The fifteen delegates present at the time, all from Europe, began to establish firm rules, laying down the foundations for international competitions in both disciplines. With the addition of Canada as a Member in 1894, the ISU expanded its horizons to become a truly international governing body.
Since the foundation of the ISU the ice skating disciplines have developed steadily over time to occupy the significant role they now enjoy in the world of sport.
1889 | The first World Championships in Speed Skating were held in Amsterdam (NED) for men only |
1891 | The first European Championships in both Speed Skating and Figure Skating (open to men only) were held at the same time in Hamburg (GER) |
1893 | The first World Championships in Speed Skating (open to men only) directly under the auspices of the ISU were held in Amsterdam (NED) |
| The European Speed Skating and Figure Skating Championships (for European men skaters only) were hosted together in Berlin (GER) |
1896 | The first World Figure Skating Championships (open to men only) were organized in St Petersburg (RUS) |
1897 | The first World Championships (in Speed Skating) to be held outside Europe were organized in Montreal (CAN) |
1906 | The first ISU Championships for Ladies Figure Skating were organized in Davos (SUI) and became World Championships in 1924 |
1908 | The first ISU Championships for Pairs Figure Skating were held in St Petersburg (RUS) and became World Championships in 1924 |
| Figure Skating (including events for Ladies, Men, Pairs and Special Figures) was the first winter sport to be included in the Olympic Games held in London (GBR) |
1920 | Figure Skating (with events for Ladies, Men and Pairs) was included in the Olympic Games held in Antwerp (BEL) |
1924 | Both Speed Skating and Figure Skating were included in the official program of the first Olympic Winter Games, held in Chamonix (FRA) |
1930 | The first World Figure Skating Championships to be held outside Europe, which included all three events together (Men, Ladies and Pairs), were held in New York City (USA) |
1936 | The first Speed Skating World Championships for Ladies were held in Stockholm (SWE) but would not become an Olympic competition for another twenty-four years |
1950 | The first international competition in ice dancing was held in London on the occasion of the World Figure Skating Championships |
1952 | The first World Championships in Ice Dancing were introduced held at the World Figure Skating Championships s in Paris (FRA) |
1970 | The first ISU Sprint Speed Skating Championships for Men and Ladies were inaugurated held in West Allis (USA) and became World Championships in 1972 |
1973 | The first ISU Junior Speed Skating Championships were held in Assen (NED) and became World Championships in 1974 |
1976 | Ice Dancing was included in the official program for the first time at the Winter Olympic Winter Games that were held in Innsbruck (AUT) |
| The first ISU Junior Figure Skating Championships were held in Megève (FRA) and became World Championships in 1978 |
1978 | The first ISU Short Track Speed Skating Championships, for Men and Ladies, were held in Solihull (GBR) and became World Championships in 1981s in 1981 |
1984 | The first ISU Congress to be held outside Europe took place in Colorado Springs (USA) |
| The World Cup events series in Speed Skating were inaugurated. Separate circuits were held for Men and Ladies until 1996 |
1990 | The first ISU Congress to be held in Oceania took place in Christchurch (NZL) |
1991 | The first World Short Track Speed Skating Team Championships were held in Seoul (KOR) |
1992 | Short Track Speed Skating was included in the official program of the Olympic Winter Games, held in Albertville (FRA) |
1994 | The first World Junior Short Track Speed Skating Championships for Men and Ladies were held in Seoul (KOR) |
1995/6 | The Grand Prix of Figure Skating series Series and Final were started |
| World Championships in Speed Skating in Single Distances for Men and Ladies were inaugurated in Hamar (NOR) |
1997 | The World Cup series in Short Track Speed Skating for Men and Ladies were launched |
| The Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Series and Final were created |
| European Championships in Short Track Speed Skating were inaugurated in Malmö (SWE) |
1999 | The Four Continents Championships in Figure Skating for skaters from North America, Asia and Oceania were inaugurated in Halifax (CAN) |
2000 | The first World Synchronized Skating Championships were held in Minneapolis (USA) |
2002 | The first ISU Congress to be held in Asia took place in Kyoto (JPN) |
2003 | New Judging System tested at Grand Prix of Figure Skating Events for the first time |
2004 | 50th ISU Congress held at the Kurhaus Hotel in Scheveningen, The Netherlands, where the ISU was founded in 1892 |
2006 | Team Pursuit Speed Skating was included in the official program of the Olympic Winter Games, held in Torino (ITA) |
