Chinese Ice Dancers Under Investigation After Holding Prop Weapon during Event
The International Skating Union have launched a formal inquiry following a pair of Chinese figure skaters were seen holding an object resembling a replica weapon at a grand prix figure skating event.
Broadcast footage captured the skaters waiting alongside a large toy shaped like a rocket labeled “DF-61” as they awaited their scores in the “kiss and cry” area on Saturday.
This model is a new China-produced ground-launched long-range weapon capable of carrying nuclear weapons, which was displayed during a national ceremony recently.
Officials is aware that an inappropriate soft toy seems to have been one of the objects thrown on to the ice by spectators following a routine during the competition,” the organization commented in an emailed statement.
“The soft toy was subsequently handled by the skaters who had just performed. We apologizes for the incident and will look into it more deeply.”
Ren and Xing finished eighth of 10 pairs in the ice dance event, which was won by the American pair from the US.
