The tour was originally run by Tom Collins Enterprises. Collins first organized the tour following the 1969 World Figure Skating Championships. It was initially known as the "Tour of World Figure Skating Champions", and featured top amateur skaters who performed under an arrangement with the International Skating Union (ISU). When the ISU liberalized its amateur status rules in 1990, Collins began to add professional skaters to the tour, as well as active eligible competitors. The tour adopted the name of "Champions on Ice" in 1998.