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Notebook Protesters rally against judges in D.C. -- not Supreme CourtPosted: Friday March 28, 2003 11:16 PMWASHINGTON (AP) -- The nation's capital has seen more than its share of protest rallies over the years, but this was the first to march to the vibe of "Hey hey, ho ho, secret judging has got to go!" More than 100 fans unhappy with the International Skating Union's judging rules marched outside the front entrance of the MCI Center on Friday during the World Figure Skating Championships. "I've never really been to a protest in my entire life," said 1992 Olympic silver medalist Paul Wylie, one of the founders of the World Skating Federation, a group that wants to replace the ISU as the sport's governing body. "It's hard to watch a championship and not know who's giving what mark to what skater and why." The ISU, in the wake of last year's scandal at the Salt Lake City Olympics, is using an interim system at worlds that keeps the judges' marks anonymous. "You will be heard around the world," said Ron Pfenning, who resigned as referee for the women's singles event in a dispute over rules. "There can be no veil of secrecy in our sport." The rally was organized by a group of fans called SkateFair, which formed over the Internet. The group passed out pamphlets in several languages and sported buttons, signs, fliers, T-shirts and banners with slogans such as "No secret judging", "International Secrecy Union" and "ISU -- Axel of Evil." Police, who have handled huge anti-war protests in recent days, were alerted ahead of time and were arrayed in force in case things got ugly. They weren't needed, except when the group momentarily choked off the entire sidewalk. "We will now take a five-minute break to resurface the sidewalk," group member Ben Currie announced jokingly into a megaphone.
Beyond Sept. 11Tara Modlin's post-Sept. 11 skating fundraiser was so successful, she's planning a sequel. Modlin, a two-time participant in ice dance at U.S. nationals, is using her skating contacts to put on Stars, Stripes and Skates 2003 at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 7. "My friend lost her brother on 9-11. He was a fireman," Modlin said. "I created a show, and it ended up being this big show. It's the only way I could help out." Last year's show at the Garden raised $75,000 and featured Sasha Cohen, Nancy Kerrigan, Victor Petrenko and Timothy Goebel. Modlin has expanded her mission this year, holding 20 skate-a-thons throughout the Northeast in addition to the New York show. This week at worlds, two-time Olympic champion Artur Dmitriev stopped by Modlin's booth to sign autographs. The first skate-a-thon is next week in Washington. "The last thing we wanted to do is just have this as a New York event," Modlin said. "This money is not going to the 9-11 families. This is for scholarships for kids who lost their parents in other acts of terrorism."
Chinese in ChinatownThe Chinese delegation had a pleasant surprise when they arrived for the championships: The MCI Center happens to be in Chinatown. "Yeah, we were very happy," coach Wang Yumin said. "We can talk to someone. We can ask them something." Wang quickly sampled one of the many Chinese restaurants. How does it compare to the food back home? "A little bit different," he said. "A little bit sweet."
Same old flagsMore and more, four big and powerful countries -- the United States, Russia, China and Japan -- are dominating all the little ones on the medals podium. Since 1996, the Big Four have won 42 of 45 possible medals in men's and women's singles at the World Championships. The only exceptions are Canada's Elvis Stojko (gold in 1997, silver in 2000) and France's Vanessa Gusmeroli (bronze in 1997). There's only a little more diversity in pairs, with five medals going to other countries in the last eight years, including the gold won by Germany's Mandy Woetzel and Ingo Steuer in 1997. Dance has spread the wealth around best, with Canada, France, Italy, Lithuania and Israel all winning medals since 2000. And this year? So far, the other 36 countries were shut out in the men's and pairs competitions. Germany has taken the biggest fall, particularly in women's singles. The country that gave us Katarina Witt, Anett Poetzsch, Claudia Leistner and Tanja Szewczenko hasn't won a medal since Szewczenko's bronze in 1994 and didn't even have an entry in this year's women's field.
Doing the rhumbaAmericans Tanith Belbin and Ben Agosto, who stood seventh after the original dance, were chosen to demonstrate a new compulsory dance, the Rhumba D'Amour, at the world championships. The number was produced by Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, the 1984 Olympic champions and considered pioneers in the sport. "It's an honor," said Belbin, who with Agosto won the junior world title in 2002. "To be chosen by Jayne and Chris really is meaningful. I hope we can carry it off." The International Skating Union often unveils new dances in this manner. |
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