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Could Medals Be Annulled?
Could skating medals awarded at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics be recinded? That possibility is the latest fallout of a scandal that links the Russian mafia to a Winter Olympic event.
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(Aug. 3, 2002)------More than 20 Olympic figure skaters performed Friday night in Salt Lake City as part of a Champions On Ice tour. And, they're reacting to allegations a Russian mobster tried to fix two figure skating events-- the pairs and the ice dancing competitions.
Olympics Specialist Shelley Osterloh has the story.
This show is the billed as the 2002 Olympic Tour-- a 93 city tour that has gone on for four months already. And just days before they return to Salt Lake City, this latest twist the scandal breaks.
Skaters say, it does not dampen their enthusisam to return to their Olympic city.
The Salt Lake City audience gave these star Olympic figure skaters a warm welcome, just as they did in February.
Michelle Kwan: IT SO WONDERFUL TO BE BACK IN SALT LAKE, PEOPLE WERE AMAZING AT THE OLYMPICS.
Victor Kraatz: PERSONALLY I JUST LOVE COMING BACK. THE EXPERIENCE I HAD WAS INCREDIBLE.
Michael Weiss: TO BE BACK IN TOWN WITH JOHN HANCOCK CHAMPIONS ON ICE TOUR TO BASICALLY THANKS ALL OF THE FANS FOR COMING OUT AND SUPPORTING US, SO INCREDIBLY LIKE THEY DID BACK DURING THE OLYMPICS.
Naomi Lang: IT WAS THE BEST FEELING IN THE WHOLE WORLD, THE AUDIENCE JUST CARRIED US THROUGH EVERYTHING, WE FELT LIKE WE WERE FLOATING THROUGH ALL OUR PROGRAMS.
But despite their enthusiasm for the Games, many are shocked by the recent allegations that a Russian mobster may have try to fix the outcome of the dance and pairs competiton.
They were surprised to hear Jacques Rogge say skating medals awarded at the Salt Lake City Olympics could be annulled.
Naomi Lang: WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY KNOW THAT UNTIL YOU JUST TOLD US. SO OBVIOUSLY WE ARE NOT GETTING ALL OF THE INFORMATION, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
Skaters say they just hope the controversy will be resolved and judging improved.
Shae-Lynn Bourne/World Silver Medalist, Dance: IT'S STILL KIND OF SHOCKING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I'M GLAD THEY DISCOVERED IT, AND HOPEFULLY GOOD WILL COME OUT OF THIS AND THEY'LL BE DEALT WITH IN THE RIGHT WAY.
Elvis Stoyjo: IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT IT'S HAPPENED, AND THAT NEGATIVE THING HAS HAPPENED TO US. BUT WE'VE SEEN IT PAST, NEGATIVE THINGS HAPPENED TO OTHER SITUATIONS AND MADE IT POSITIVE. SO WELL JUST KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED AND HOPE THAT IT DOES.
And what does America's favorite skater, Michelle Kwan, think of the scandal?
Michelle Kwan: WHAT'S GOING ON, ARE YOU TAKING ABOUT THE NANCY TANYA THING? laughs [EDIT] FOR ME I JUST DO MY OWN THING AND IM HAPPY WITH THAT.
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