BS: Figure skate judging mess

Subject: RE: BS: Figure skate judging mess
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 01:34 PM

This was part of an AP report:

The head of the French Olympic team said Wednesday night that a judge from his country was pressured to "act in a certain way" before she voted to give the gold to the Russians over the Canadians.

The admission came after the International Olympic Committee made the unusual move of telling the International Skating Union to settle the mess that began Monday night and settle it fast. Hours earlier, the ISU president said he received "certain allegations" from the American referee who oversaw the judging and that he was trying to protect the integrity of his sport.

Subject: RE: BS: Figure skate judging mess
From: SharonA
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 01:19 PM

I'd heard this morning on a news-radio station that the Canadian contingent says they want to have their skaters awarded a gold medal, but that they'd be content to let the Russians keep theirs also.

Subject: Figure skate judging mess
From: Gary T
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 11:33 AM

Curious to know what anyone has read/heard about this. The latest thing I read was in today's (Thur.) morning paper.

The news article was confusing. It seemed to say that NBC heard the French judge admit to being pressured to cast her vote for the Russians, the French Association head said she was honest but was pressured, and the International Association head saying that she was accused of something but denied it. Of course said head (Ottavio Cinquanta) was also quoted as saying the results could not be changed and then retracting that statement. I'm not sure I find him very credible.

A columnist who rankled me yesterday by essentially asserting that the judging all came down to a matter of taste is now ackowledging that there's more to it than that, and is all but saying that there will be something done. Most likely this would be awarding a gold medal to the Canadian couple, while allowing the Russian couple to keep theirs. Strikes me as an unclean way to settle things.

I can't help but wonder, if it is decided that there was a judging error and the Canadians are awarded gold, would anyone even consider at least asking (not necessarily demanding) that the Russians accept the silver? While I'm sure that would not be what they'd prefer to do, they perhaps agree that it should have been that way in the first place, and might go along with it to effect a neater outcome. Any thoughts?