Through its continued engagement with the United Nations International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP) 2026, the ISU proudly stands alongside skaters and the global sporting community in championing sport as a powerful force for positive change - promoting inclusion, understanding, and unity.Celebrated annually on April 6, this year’s theme - “Sport: Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers” - strongly resonates across the global skating community and is firmly embedded in the ISU Vision 2030.

From competition rinks to athlete welfare initiatives such as Calm Zones, the ISU and its Members continue to foster spaces where athletes from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds can come together through shared experience, mutual respect, and friendship. 

This vision is also brought to life through the World Ice Skating Day, launched by the ISU in 2022. This global initiative unites people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to come together for moments of connection and community on the ice - breaking down social, economic, and cultural barriers and encouraging greater inclusion and youth engagement.

“The ISU is proud to support the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace and the #WhiteCard campaign,” said ISU President Jae Youl Kim. “Our skaters are at the heart of everything we do, and they demonstrate every day what our sport stands for. Through their actions, they set an example we can all follow - showing how respect and support can build bridges and bring people together.” 

By raising the #WhiteCard and sharing powerful messages of support at the recent ISU Figure Skating World Championships 2026 skaters have once again demonstrated that sport is more than competition: it is a platform to inspire, to unite, and to drive meaningful change.

This spirit has been visible throughout the season, including at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, where skaters consistently supported one another both on and off the ice. Whether in the Kiss and Cry, during practice sessions, at Press Conferences, or in quieter moments away from competition, athletes have shown that high-level performance can go hand in hand with genuine encouragement, respect, and solidarity.