World Figure Skating Championships return to Prague after 33 years
The world figure skating championships are back in Prague for the first time since 1993, reviving a tradition that dates back decades. The Czech capital has hosted the event several times before, including the historic 1962 championships. This year, the competition is not only a major sporting event but also a global gathering point for fans and visitors.
It was in Prague, in 1962, that Canadian skater Don Jackson made history by landing the first triple loop at a World Figure Skating Championship and going on to win the title. So this is not the first time that the world’s top figure skaters have gathered in the Czech capital.
Prague first hosted the championships in 1939, when only the women’s event took place there. It returned to the global spotlight in 1962 with a full programme, and again in 1993, when another Canadian, Kurt Browning, won gold in the men’s free skate. Now, more than three decades later, the championships are back once again. And beyond sport, they are once again turning Prague into a global meeting point — drawing fans and visitors from around the world.
Creating a perfect ice rink
Inside the O2 Arena, the competition is already underway. But beneath the performances lies a surface that had to be carefully rebuilt.
“The ice has to be painted, branded. Another layer has to be added, but at the same time it cannot be too thick, so there is a lot of work,” explains Josef Ženíšek from the organising team. The skating surface is built on top of the ice used by Sparta Prague for ice hockey. But figure skating requires different conditions.
“For figure skating, the temperature is slightly higher. The ice is softer — it’s because of the take-offs,” Ženíšek says. That means a surface that allows skaters to jump and spin more effectively, while still maintaining precise cooling conditions.
The transformation goes further. Hockey boards have been replaced with LED panels, and new spaces have been created for participants.
“There are two positions. One is the ‘kiss and cry’, where skaters wait for their scores. The other is the ‘leader’s chair’, where the current leader waits to see if someone beats them — or stays there until victory,” Ženíšek adds.
A global event — and a personal moment
For Czech skater Georgii Reshtenko (born in Sain Petersburg) competing at home makes the event even more special:
“I still can’t quite believe that the World Championships are taking place in Prague,” he says. Rather than focusing on results, his goal is simple.
“I don’t feel pressure about the placement. I want to deliver two clean performances and enjoy the end of the season.”
He will also have strong support in the stands.
“My whole family, friends — even a friend from the United States — are coming. I think it will help me. I’m excited and nervous,” he adds.
The championships are also a major moment for the city itself. Only a limited number of tickets remain for the short programmes, while the free skates are sold out across all categories. More than thirty years after it last hosted the event, Prague is once again at the centre of the figure skating world — just as it was in 1962.
