“Strong alarm”: skaters at the Grand Prix in France could not leave the ice arena because of protests

The ISU Grand Prix series, one of the most significant competitions in figure skating, has officially started. The first stage in French Angers was held from 23 to 25 October. However, during the tournament, the athletes had to face not only competition, but also an external factor.

The prestigious start was marred by protests. On the second day of the competition, more than 400,000 people took to the streets of the country, according to the French Interior Ministry. Angers was also affected, especially after 14:00. Previously, the organizers urged all skaters to arrive at the arena no later than 13:00 and stay there until the end of the competition, which lasted until late in the evening. The women's tournament did not start until 19:30. At the same time, the shuttles did not run to the hotel at this time.

The skaters who flew home that evening had to come to the arena with their suitcases. To allow participants to spend the whole day on site, the organizers provided meals outside the usual schedule and opened additional recreation areas - including in a nearby cinema and restaurants. In addition, the protection of the rink was strengthened.

The bronze medalist of the Games in Milan and the winner of the stage in the women's tournament Ami Nakai from Japan commented on the situation:

- Because of the protests, we were unable to return to the hotel. This is the first time I've faced such a situation. This caused me great anxiety - in addition to the usual pre-launch excitement.

It is worth noting that this is not the first time that the safety of skaters in the French stage of the series is under threat. In November 2015, the tournament in Bordeaux ended after short programs due to the introduction of a state of emergency declared in connection with a series of terrorist attacks in Paris. Arbitrary programmes and demonstrations were cancelled. Later, ISU announced the results of the short programs as final for the stage. This affected the balance in the fight for the final: some top athletes were outside the top three and lost the opportunity to recoup without gaining the necessary number of points.