| Salt Lake City |
 |
 |
| GER |
12 |
16 |
7 |
35 |
 |
| USA |
10 |
13 |
11 |
34 |
|
| NOR |
11 |
7 |
6 |
24 |
|
| CAN |
6 |
3 |
8 |
17 |
|
| RUS |
6 |
6 |
4 |
16 |
|
| AUT |
2 |
4 |
10 |
16 |
|
| ITA |
4 |
4 |
4 |
12 |
|
| FRA |
4 |
5 |
2 |
11 |
|
| SUI |
3 |
2 |
6 |
11 |
|
| NED |
3 |
5 |
0 |
8 |
|
|
|
|
Figure Skating Controversy
Carole Mikita
KSL-TV
The Canadian delegation asked for an independent inquiry or investigation into the judges' decision. News Specialist Carole Mikita reports.
The international outcry over last Monday's pairs figure skating final is mounting. The Russian team came away with the gold despite missteps and wobbles. The Canadians, who skated a flawless program, took the silver.
The International Skating Union president, Ottavio Cinquanta, faced reporters Wednesday, and we think everyone came away realizing how difficult it will be to change that decision on figure skating.
Cinquanta said, "No, I cannot simply give the public the right to judge a figure skating competition. No competition is judged by the public."
Through a translator, Cinquanta held a sometimes- heated news conference. Reporters asked if he has any idea of the scope of this controversy.
His response: his union must follow the rules and will meet here Monday, the 18th, to investigate a credible allegation against the judging.
The referee of the pairs competition, American Ronald Pfenning, is the one who made the allegation. But the ISU won't say which judge Pfenning made the allegation against.
Cinquanta explained, "I say, 'This is the allegation against you, what do you respond?' The response is controversial, is against the allegation. Put yourself in my position. I have an allegation and I have a denial. This is my situation."
Both the ISU and IOC acknowledge this incident is not the first time allegations of deciding winners before the competition, or judges agreeing to vote together has arisen. It happened in ice dancing four years ago in Nagano.
A reporter asked today, "How can you guarantee skaters, fans, and Olympic officials that you all, once and for all, will take care of this?"
The response: "The problem is how an international federation can protect and can practically limit the situation. This is the problem. You have to do it through rules, not through imagination."
Even with an investigation, the only thing the ISU can do is be tough on the judge or judges, if there is enough evidence. But this union does not have the power to reverse an Olympic competition decision, so the medals stand as they are.
The Athletes
As for the Canadian skaters, they say they are fine. Colleagues have pasted 6.0s all over their door in the Olympic village.
On Tuesday, they held a news conference.
Pelletier said, "We're sad. I'm not going to... I mean I'll spare you time with the cliche, and tell you we give one hundred percent, and all that stuff. But we did give one hundred percent and we ended up with a silver. But sometimes a silver medal is won by a gold medal performance, and that's what we did."
We also heard from Sale: "Even around the village, we went for breakfast really early this morning, and a lot of the other athletes are coming up to us and saying, 'You guys are so good, and we're really proud of you guys, and you should have won the gold.' And that's neat. That's really neat. But Dave and I are so proud of what we've done, and they can't take that away."
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February 13, 2002
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