During the Edwardian era, the International Skating Union was presided over by Lieutenant Colonel Viktor Gustaf Balck, a Swedish former military gymnastics instructor who was one of the original members of the International Olympic Committee. During Balck's thirty year reign as ISU President, the World Championships were held in Sweden no less than five times - a number only tied by Austria-Hungary - drawing some to perceive a conflict of interest between his involvements with both the Swedish federation and the ISU.
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His wife, later Queen Alexandra sits in the background. Photo courtesy BIS Archive. Colour lithograph circa , courtesy the Victoria and Albert Museum. Donated by Noel D. Photo courtesy Parnell Square Cultural Quarter.
With its acrobats, equestrian acts, clowns and equilibrists , Hengler's Grand Cirque was a popular attraction well after its namesake's death in In , Hengler's sons sold the property to a restauranteur. After less than a year the land was sold again, this time to the National Skating Palace Ltd. A plan was put into motion to develop a lavish ice rink on the property that would put some of the earlier London ice rinks to shame.
Henning Grenander. World Champion Henning Grenander, whom Digby engaged to give exhibitions at the Palace remarked, "Everything is simply beautiful, and what surprises me most is that the place is warm. This is the first time I have seen anything so splendid; and fancy walking down on Brussels carpets to skate!
