China's Figure Skaters Face Investigation Following Displaying Toy Missile at Event
ISU officials are conducting an investigation following a pair of Chinese figure skaters were seen holding what looked like a toy ballistic missile at an international skating competition.
Broadcast footage captured the skaters waiting alongside a sizable prop shaped like a missile labeled “DF-61” while waiting for their scores at the “kiss and cry” area during the event.
This model represents a recently introduced China-produced ground-launched long-range weapon capable of transporting atomic warheads, that had been displayed at a military parade recently.
Officials is aware of an unsuitable soft toy appears to have been one of the objects tossed onto the ice by spectators after a performance during the competition,” the organization commented via a release.
The item was then handled by the skaters after their performance. The ISU regrets the incident and will look into it more deeply.”
Ren and Xing placed in eighth place out of ten teams during the ice dancing competition, which was won by Madison Chock and Evan Bates from the US.