The ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating (JGP) was established by the International Skating Union (ISU) in 1997 and consists of a series of seven international figure skating competitions exclusively for junior-level skaters. The locations of the Junior Grand Prix events change every year. While all seven competitions feature the men's, women's, and ice dance events, only four competitions each season feature the pairs event. Skaters earn points based on their results each season, and the top skaters or teams in each discipline are then invited to compete at the Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final.[1]
Skaters are eligible to compete on the junior-level circuit if they are at least 13 years old before 1 July of the respective season, and if they have not yet turned 19 (for single skaters, and females in ice dance and pair skating) or 21 (for males in ice dance and pair skating).[1] Competitors are chosen by their respective skating federations. The number of entries allotted to each ISU member nation in each discipline is determined by their results at the prior World Junior Figure Skating Championships.[2]
Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto of the United States, the ice dance champions at the inaugural Junior Grand Prix in Canada
Canada hosted its first Junior Grand Prix competition in 1999 in Montreal. Soshi Tanaka of Japan won the men's event, Irina Nikolaeva of Russia won the women's event, Chantal Poirier and Craig Buntin of Canada won the pairs event, and Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto of the United States won the ice dance event.[3]
In May 2020, Skate Canada informed the ISU that they could not host the Junior Grand Prix event scheduled to be held in August in Richmond, British Columbia, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.[6] The International Skating Union eventually cancelled all scheduled Junior Grand Prix events for the 2020–21 season, citing increased travel and entry requirements between countries and potentially excessive sanitary and health care costs for those hosting competitions.[7]
Canada was originally scheduled to host the second event of the 2021 Junior Grand Prix Series in Edmonton, but cancelled the event due to uncertainties surrounding the ongoing pandemic. The event was reallocated to France, where the French Federation of Ice Sports was already scheduled to host the first 2021 Junior Grand Prix competition in Courchevel. Thus, two Junior Grand Prix competitions were held back-to-back at the Patinoire du Forum in Courchevel.[8]
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