2009 ISU World Figure Skating Championships up for pair of Sportstravel magazine awards

Colorado Springs, Colo. (August 18, 2009) - SportsTravel magazine has announced that the 2009 ISU World Figure Skating Championships has been nominated for two of its annual awards: "Best Multi-Sport or Multi-Discipline Event" in the "Amateur Sporting Events" category and "Sports Event of the Year."

Events are nominated by readers of SportsTravel, the sports world's event magazine. Criteria for nomination and voting include superior organization of and attendance at the event, a superior experience for the competitors and/or spectators at the event, and how the site or venue served to enhance the event.

Official ballots are available in the August and September issues of SportsTravel magazine. Readers may also vote online at www.SportsTravelMagazine.com.

The 2009 World Championships is in the running in the "Best Multi-Sport or Multi-Discipline Event" category with five other events from the past year, including the 2008 Olympic Summer Games and the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games.

The world's best figure skaters vied for four World titles in ladies, men's, pairs and ice dancing at the 2009 World Championships, March 22-29 in Los Angeles, Calif. More than 200 athletes from at least 50 countries competed for podium spots. The event, which was hosted by U.S. Figure Skating, the International Skating Union, AEG, STAPLES Center and L.A. Live, drew a record crowd of 101,679.

The ballot includes nominees in amateur, collegiate and professional categories. Within those categories, awards are given for best single-sport event, best multi-sport or multi-discipline event, and best sports event series or circuit. Voters will also select the best new sports event of the year and overall sports event of the year from among all the nominated events.

Balloting is open through Sept. 14, 2009. Winners will be announced at the TEAMS 2009 Conference & Expo, Oct. 13-17, 2009, in New Orleans, La. 

- U.S. Figure Skating -

U.S. Figure Skating is the national governing body for the sport of figure skating in the United States as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the International Skating Union. U.S. Figure Skating is comprised of more than 700 member clubs, collegiate clubs, and school-affiliated clubs and more than 900 registered Basic Skills skating schools representing approximately 170,000 members. U.S. Figure Skating is charged with the development of the sport on all levels within the United States  including athletes, officials, sanctioning of events and exhibitions, and establishing the rules and guidelines by which the sport is governed.