China's Ice Dancers Face Probe After Displaying Prop Weapon at Event
The International Skating Union have launched a formal inquiry after a pair of Chinese ice dancers appeared holding what looked like a toy ballistic missile at an international skating competition.
Broadcast footage captured the skaters sitting with a large toy shaped like a rocket marked “DF-61” as they awaited their scores at the “kiss and cry” area during the event.
The DF-61 is a new China-produced land-based long-range weapon capable of carrying nuclear weapons, that had been displayed at a military parade recently.
Officials have acknowledged of an unsuitable plush item seems to have been among those tossed onto the rink by audience members following a performance at the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China event,” the organization commented via a release.
The item was then held by the skaters who had just performed. We regrets the incident and will look into it more deeply.”
Ren and Xing finished eighth out of ten teams during the ice dancing competition, which was won by Madison Chock and Evan Bates of the United States.
