The International Skating Union are conducting a formal inquiry following a pair of Chinese ice dancers were seen with an object resembling a toy ballistic missile at an international skating competition.
Television footage captured the skaters waiting alongside a sizable prop shaped like a missile marked “DF-61” as they awaited their scores in the “kiss and cry” area on Saturday.
The DF-61 represents a new Chinese-made ground-launched long-range weapon capable of transporting atomic warheads, that had been displayed at a military parade recently.
Officials is aware of an unsuitable plush item seems to have been one of the objects tossed onto the rink by spectators after a routine at the ISU Figure Skating Grand Prix Cup of China event,” the ISU stated in an emailed statement.
“The soft toy was then handled by the skaters who had just performed. We apologizes for this occurrence and will investigate further.”
Ren and Xing finished in eighth place of 10 pairs in the ice dance event, which was won by the American pair from the US.
