London, Ontario’s Budweiser Gardens will be the center of attention for the world of figure skating next month as the city hosts the 2013 ISU World Figure Skating Championships. It will be the first time the event has been held in Canada since 2006, when Calgary set the stage for the event.
As an annual event that moves around the globe, the ISU World Figure Skating Championships attract more than 150 million TV viewers worldwide and showcase 200 of the best athletes from 50 countries in four disciplines: men’s, ladies, pair and ice dance.
Canada currently has favorites in two of the four disciplines. Canadian champion Patrick Chan is the holder of three world records and is the reigning 2011 World Champion. In Ice Dance, Olympic and World Champions, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, both from the London area, will be battling to add another world title to their list of successes.
Competition in London will not only name the world champions in all disciplines, it will also identify the numbers of entries qualifying countries may send to the Sochi Winter Olympic Games in Russia, which is less than a year away.
The competition schedule is not yet final however practice sessions will begin on March 11, with the closing exhibition gala performed on Sunday, March 17.
Seeing “The Worlds” live is a rare opportunity. Feeling the tension and emotion, witnessing the speed and power, sitting in the audience and watching the drama unfold is a not-to-be-missed sporting event!
For ticket information, visit www.skatecanada.ca or www.budweisergardens.com, or call 1-866-455-2849. For helpful information on planning a quick getaway to London, please visit www.londontourism.ca.
