The U.S. Figure Skating Association "denied as 'categorically false' a report ... that America and Russia were conspiring to rig the pairs and ice dancing competitions at the Sochi Games at the expense of Canada," according to Jere Longman of the N.Y. TIMES. The report in French sports newspaper L’Équipe, which quoted an unnamed Russian coach, said that the U.S. "intended to help Russia win the overall team event and the pairs competition." It added that Russia in return would "make sure the Americans Charlie White and Meryl Davis won the ice dancing competition." The USFSA in a statement said, "There is no help between countries. We have no further response to rumors, anonymous sources or conjecture" (N.Y. TIMES, 2/9). IOC Dir of Communications Mark Adams said, "I’ve seen absolutely no evidence apart from what I’ve read in the (L’Equipe) and we’ll treat that as a bit of gossip with no grounds. Of course we take it seriously, but having read the report I didn’t see anything other than an unnamed person making an allegation" (GLOBE & MAIL, 2/9). Canadian ice dancers Scott Moir and Tessa Virtue said that they were "unconcerned about the report of a deal." Davis said that she had "not heard about it until asked by reporters after the short dance." She added, "It’s unfortunate there is an article. We are confident what we are putting out on the ice speaks for itself" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/9). The CP's Lori Ewing wrote the rumors of collusion "brought back memories of the judging scandal" at the '02 Salt Lake City Games, when Canadians Jamie Sale and David Pelletier were "temporarily denied gold due to backroom dealing between judges" (CP, 2/9).
BLESSING IN DISGUISE? YAHOO SPORTS' Dan Wetzel wrote the report of corruption "may not register as much more than one of those comically viral stories that the Games produce," and actually "might even be a positive" for the sport. It is a "complete boon to ice dance, which sits in the shadow of individual figure skating and is in a forever battle to be taken seriously." The sport has "none of the daring jumps of the men's and women's events and the wild throws of pairs, just two people ballroom dancing on ice in elaborate costumes." Wetzel: "There's now a reason to watch ice dance, if only to see if the fix really is in" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 2/8). In N.Y., Filip Bondy wrote the controversy "may bring some attention to a sport that has been slowly dying on the vine in America" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/9).
DANCING TO THE BANK: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Betsy McKay examined the marketability of Davis and White and wrote while ice dancing "isn't normally at the top of the list of sports that attracts big U.S. corporate sponsors," the duo is the "only serious shot at a gold medal in figure skating" for the U.S. The two are an "Olympic sponsor's dream: a polished, wholesome pair who grew up 10 minutes from one another in suburban Detroit and have been skating together since elementary school." IMG Worldwide Events & Federations/Olympic Clients Manager Hailey Ohnuki, who represents Davis and White, said that the two "have the longest list of sponsors ever for a U.S. ice dance team." Their portfolio includes Procter & Gamble, Kellogg, Ralph Lauren, AT&T and Airweave, a Japanese mattress firm. Kellogg Senior VP/Morning Foods Marketing & Innovation Noel Geoffroy said that the brand "put the pair on its Crispix cereal box and is promoting them as members of its Olympic 'Team Kellogg's' in a 'great starts' campaign that ties athletes' beginnings in their sports to 'the power of a great start' with breakfast." McKay noted despite the appeal of Davis and White, ice dancing "has a long way to go before it can match the marketing might of men's or women's singles figure skating." The pair's list of sponsors is "only about as long as those of Gracie Gold and Ashley Wagner -- two U.S. women singles' skaters who are a long shot for the podium in Sochi" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 2/8).
