<P> Pressure to reduce the weight of compulsory figures began when the Olympic Games and other skating competitions began to be widely shown on television . Figures were not considered appealing or exciting to television audiences . Completion of the figures and their analysis by the judges could last eight hours at the World Championships . In addition, skaters who excelled at compulsory figures were often not the most talented at free skating, but sometimes accumulated such a large lead from the school figures that they won the competitions overall . Such results would often leave general viewers stunned because they had watched only the free skating and had little or no knowledge of the compulsory figures . </P> <P> A reform was undertaken to put more emphasis on the free skating . The first step was taken in 1968, when figures were reduced to 50% of the total score . In 1973, the number of figures was reduced from six to three, and a new segment, the short program, was added to competitions . Despite the reduction, figures often began at 8 am at ISU Championships, such as 1975 Worlds and 1983 Europeans . In 1983, skaters would often spend almost twice as much time practicing figures, up to five hours a day, as they did practicing their free skating . </P> <P> From 1973 to 1975, the weights of compulsory figures, short program, and free skating were 40%, 20%, and 40%, respectively . From 1976 to 1988, this changed to 30%, 20%, and 50% . In June 1988, the proportions were changed to 20%, 30%, and 50% for the 1988--89 and 1989--90 seasons . In addition, ISU member nations voted 27--4 to eliminate compulsories entirely from international competition after July 1990 . Less practice ice being available in Europe meant that most European nations voted in favor of abolition . The United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand voted to retain figures . </P> <P> Opponents of figures said they held back talented skaters such as Janet Lynn and Midori Ito, while supporters said they instilled discipline and produced higher quality of basic skating technique . In 1980, ISU president Jacques Favart stated that figures "are a waste of time and they prevent ice skaters from being more creative". With less coaching and ice time required, Hugh Graham, president of U.S. Figure Skating, estimated that skaters' expenses would be reduced by at least 50% after abolition . In the summer of 1997, U.S. Figure Skating voted to end domestic competitions in figures after the 1997--98 season . </P>

When did they remove figures from figure skating