Chinese Ice Dancers Face Investigation Following Holding Prop Weapon at Competition
The International Skating Union have launched a formal inquiry following a pair of Chinese ice dancers were seen holding what looked like a toy ballistic missile at an international skating competition.
Television footage showed the skaters waiting with a sizable prop in the form of a missile marked “DF-61” as they awaited their scores in the “kiss and cry” area on Saturday.
This model represents a new China-produced land-based intercontinental ballistic missile designed for transporting atomic warheads, that had been unveiled during a national ceremony last month.
“The ISU have acknowledged of an unsuitable plush item seems to have been one of the objects thrown on to the rink by audience members following a routine at the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China event,” the ISU stated via a release.
The item was subsequently held by the skaters who had just performed. The ISU apologizes for this occurrence and will investigate further.”
The duo placed eighth out of ten teams during the ice dancing competition, which was won by the American pair of the United States.