ISU President Kim Jae-youl officially opened the 25th ISU Synchronized Skating World Championships in Salzburg this evening. It was the highlight of an emotional opening ceremony.

“The Sound of Music” – the world’s most famous story associated with the host city – created numerous emotional highlights during the opening ceremony of the ISU Synchronized Skating World Championships at the Salzburgarena. Local young skaters presented the famous story in a creative and artistic choreography together with the Salzburg pair skaters Gabriella Izzo and Luc Maierhofer, who competed at the ISU Figure Skating World Championships in Prague two weeks ago. The emotional opening of the show was provided earlier by the Special Olympics team Viennese Butterflies, which beautifully embodied the World Championships motto “United in Skating.”

“It was a magnificent opening ceremony,” said OC head Carmen Kiefer. “Our young talents delivered a fantastic show and the performance by Viennese Butterflies was a true highlight,” she praised.

High praise from the ISU President

To conclude the evening, Kim Jae-youl, President of the International Skating Union and member of the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee, thanked everyone involved in the preparation of the World Championships 2026 – above all the Austrian Figure Skating Association (Skate Austria), led by President Christiane Mörth, as well as the Salzburg Organizing Committee, headed by Carmen Kiefer. He concluded with the famous words: “I declare the 25th ISU Synchronized Skating World Championships 2026 in Salzburg open!” His declaration was met with great applause and celebration in the stands of the well-attended Salzburgarena.

“A wonderful stage”

Skate Austria President Christiane Mörth emphasized the importance of the event for Austrian figure skating: “We have hosted several international championships in Austria in recent years. But this one is a really special event for us!”

Event manager Theresa Katzlinger highlighted the extensive preparation work that ensured a smooth championship weekend: “We planned and prepared these World Championships in a focused and consistent manner. It has been a wonderful experience working in this team,” she said. “We have a wonderful stage here in the Salzburgarena. I wish all teams and athletes great success over the next two days.”

Synchro 9 – Salzburg meets the future

ISU President Kim Jae-youl also used his opening speech to announce the introduction of the new discipline “Synchro 9”. In the 2028 Youth Olymic Games in Italy, this discipline will reach an early international milestone – an important step towards the ISU’s goal of including „Synchro 9“ in the Olympic Winter Games programme.