Chinese Ice Dancers Under Investigation Following Holding Toy Missile at Event
ISU officials are conducting an investigation after a pair of Chinese ice dancers were seen holding what looked like a toy ballistic missile at an international skating competition.
Broadcast video captured the skaters sitting with a sizable prop shaped like a missile marked “DF-61” as they awaited their scores at the “kiss and cry” zone on Saturday.
The DF-61 represents a recently introduced Chinese-made land-based intercontinental ballistic missile capable of transporting atomic warheads, which was unveiled at a military parade recently.
Officials have acknowledged of an unsuitable plush item appears to have been one of the objects thrown on to the ice by spectators following a performance during the competition,” the ISU stated via a release.
“The soft toy was subsequently held by the skaters who had just performed. We regrets the incident and will look into it more deeply.”
Ren and Xing placed in eighth place out of ten teams during the ice dancing competition, which was won by the American pair of the United States.
