China's Figure Skaters Under Investigation After Displaying Toy Missile at Event
ISU officials have launched an investigation after two Chinese ice dancers appeared with what looked like a toy ballistic missile during an international skating competition.
Broadcast video showed Ren Junfei and Xing Jianing sitting alongside a large toy shaped like a missile labeled “DF-61” while waiting for their scores at the “kiss and cry” zone during the event.
This model is a new China-produced land-based intercontinental ballistic missile designed for carrying nuclear weapons, that had been displayed during a national ceremony recently.
“The ISU is aware of an unsuitable soft toy seems to have been among those thrown on to the ice by spectators following a performance at the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China event,” the organization commented via a release.
“The soft toy was subsequently held by the skaters who had just performed. The ISU apologizes for the incident and will investigate further.”
The duo finished eighth out of ten teams in the ice dance event, which was won by the American pair from the US.
