China's Ice Dancers Face Investigation After Displaying Prop Weapon during Event
ISU officials have launched a formal inquiry after a pair of Chinese figure skaters were seen holding what looked like a toy ballistic missile during an international skating competition.
Broadcast video showed the skaters waiting alongside a sizable prop in the form of a missile marked “DF-61” as they awaited the judges' results at the “kiss and cry” area on Saturday.
The DF-61 is a new Chinese-made land-based long-range weapon designed for transporting atomic warheads, that had been unveiled at a military parade last month.
“The ISU have acknowledged that an inappropriate soft toy appears to have been one of the objects tossed onto the ice by audience members after a performance at the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China event,” the ISU stated in an emailed statement.
“The soft toy was subsequently held by the skaters who had just performed. We regrets the incident and will investigate further.”
Ren and Xing placed eighth of 10 pairs during the ice dancing competition, which was won by the American pair of the United States.
