Siep Luinenburg, a 69-year-old ice skating official, has expressed his disappointment with the International Skating Union (ISU) over the way new age limit regulations were introduced, despite understanding the need for changes in rules.
According to schaatsen.nl, a Dutch ice skating news platform, Luinenburg discovered by chance on June 1 that the ISU had established an age limit of 65 for certain officials. This rule was included in a communiqué regarding amendments to long track speed skating rules that took effect on June 12. Previously, throughout early 2026, Luinenburg had been actively preparing for upcoming ISU events without any indication of such a restriction.
Luinenburg sent a detailed letter to ISU leadership outlining his concerns. He stated that his main issue was not with the age limit itself, but rather with the manner in which it was implemented and communicated. In his letter, he noted that he was asked to provide his clothing sizes for future events and to reserve a week in October for a seminar. Additionally, he was officially nominated by the Royal Dutch Skating Federation (KNSB) for the 2026-2027 season. Nowhere was the age criterion mentioned during these preparations.
On June 16, 2026, Luinenburg requested clarification from the ISU regarding the decision-making process, the communication gap, and the lack of a transitional arrangement. He emphasized that he respects the ISU’s right to modify policies but criticized the process as careless and disrespectful. Despite sending a reminder on June 29, he did not even receive an acknowledgment of receipt.
He described the situation as distressing, saying it had affected his well-being. He reached out to Hanjo Heideman, a member of the ISU technical committee, who was unaware of the changes, as well as to Remy de Wit and Freek van der Wart from the KNSB, who were also uninformed. Luinenburg forwarded them the letter he sent to the ISU. On June 30, he sent the letter to Herman de Haan, a member of the ISU integrity committee since June 12. Luinenburg highlighted the irony of the ISU’s emphasis on ethical codes and teamwork while he experienced a lack of direct personal communication throughout this process. This is particularly significant given his 26 years of voluntary dedication to the sport.
