OMG. Alleged collusion at the Olympics between USA and Russian judges in figure skating. CBC News.

[applegrove]

America denies it.

Alleged Olympic vote-swapping deal would keep Canada from gold

French magazine L'Equipe reports Russia-U.S. deal would see Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir win silver

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/alleged-olympic-vote-swapping-deal-would-keep-canada-from-gold-1.2528489

"SNIP.......................................

French magazine L'Equipe alleges the U.S. and Russia have struck a deal to help each other out at Sochi Winter Olympic figure skating events, which would keep Canada's Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir from the gold.

The magazine quotes a Russian coach, who spoke to the magazine on the condition of anonymity about the "proposed barter" between the two countries.

According to the magazine, the anonymous official said the U.S. has agreed to help Russia win the pairs figure skating and team events.

In exchange, Russia would purportedly ensure Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the U.S. win gold over Canadian champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir.

........................................SNIP"

[applegrove]

1. I wouldn't be able to stand being a figure skater. Judging is too arbitrary.

[polly7]

2. Wtf?

If this is true ... a few judges need to be replaced!

[applegrove]

3. Canadian figure skaters also felt they were being repeatedly drug tested

while at the Olympics way too much. Too much intrigue. Maybe their worry is misplaced. But given the situation figure skating is in, it doesn't surprise me that nobody trusts anybody else.

[polly7]

6. Well, I just hope they get out there and do their best, politics and bullshit aside.

Makes me sick though to think it even might be happening.

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. France could be mad that their team did not

make the finals. The only crap judging I have seen so far was on some of the snowboarders.

[applegrove]

5. I know. We'll probably never know what is going on.

[ScreamingMeemie]

7. Probably not. I will say that the US ice dancing pair is amazingly great.

I was never that big of a fan of ice dancing, but they are completely synchronized. It's almost scary.

[applegrove]

10. I meant with the disclosure to the french magazine we will probably never

find out exactly what kind of intrigue is going on there. As for ice dancing it is usually obvious that one pair stands out and is floating on air their whole routine.

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. Oh, I know...I'm sorry for the misunderstanding.

I do think Italy's single's woman skater got totally screwed.

[Archae]

8. Eliminate Olympic judging.

Only the sports with concrete goals, (like most points, fastest times, etc.) should be given medals.

Just too much opportunities for corruption.

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. ...and lose about 75% (that's just a guess) of your viewership.

I haven't watched Men's hockey since they allowed the pros to play. I love snowboarding too much to never watching, and figure skating is nice to have on in the background while I'm working. The music makes freelance writing/edit so much more pleasant.

[Retrograde]

12. I'm shocked, shocked!

Didn't something similar happen a few years back?

[Nye Bevan]

13. Any country that accuses the US and Russia of teaming up to screw it

might understandably be suspected of being somewhat paranoid.

[applegrove]

15. LOL!

[arthritisR_US]

25. It's the French reporting not the Canadians which

has tweaked our interest. No paranoia.

[laundry_queen]

14. Since 2002

nothing about corruption in figure skating shocks me anymore. It's a damn shame if it's true though.

The excess testing of Canadians has me going though. They said one figure skater was tested right before her program instead of after - practically unheard of apparently.

[MagickMuffin]

16. What Utter Nonsense: Charlie and Meryl Don't Need Any Help Winning The Gold!

Meryl Davis and Charlie White have won countless competitions since Vancouver.

They won the Grand Prix final in 2013, 2012, 2011.

They have also won World Championship in 2013, 2011. They won the silver in 2012.

Charlie and Meryl will WIN without any help from the judges trading votes! I have been a huge fan since they first took the ice on the senior level.

… … … GO MERYL and CHARLIE … … …

[rocktivity]

20. The only people who "purportedly ensured" that Davis and White would finish first

were Davis and White.

Not only are they ALREADY ranked #1 in the world, they haven't finished worse than second place since 2008!


rocktivity

[MagickMuffin]

23. They Are Remarkable Skaters, They Dance As One Unit

All their moves flow and are never jerky. I certainly can't say that about any other team, including the Canadian team.

I really believe they should have won the gold in Vancouver. Perhaps there was some "conspiracy" between Canada and ? to ensure the Canadian team would win!


… … … Go MERYL and CHARLIE … … … 

[Downwinder]

17. Normal skating judges.

[Tx4obama]

18. U.S. Officials Deny L'Equipe Report - see article below...

SOCHI, Russia, Feb 8 (Reuters) - U.S. Figure Skating has strongly denied reports suggesting the United States and Russia are conspiring to help each other win gold medals at the Sochi Olympics.

"Comments made in a L'Equipe story are categorically false," the American governing body said in a statement on Saturday.

"There is no 'help' between countries. We have no further response to rumours, anonymous sources or conjecture."

-snip-

.... the current accumulative scoring system, which officials believe cannot be manipulated as scores are now picked at random - with the judging panel unaware which scores have been discarded.

-snip-

Full article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/08/olympics-figure-skating-conspiracy-us-russia_n_4752324.html

[LisaL]

19. Sounds like a complete nonsense.

Neither Russian pair nor US dancers need any help.

[rocktivity]

22. DING DING DING! LisaL, you're our grand prize winner!

Neither Russian pair nor US dancers need any help.

And if such a deal was cut, I'd like to know by whom -- I have a bridge in Brooklyn they may want to buy!


rocktivity

[joeybee12]

21. I wouldn't be surprised, but the source is Canadian...

So, eh, I don't think I believe it.

[FSogol]

24. Haw! Canada thought they could just pawn Justin Beiber off on the US, who's laughing now?

[OregonBlue]

26. I call b.s. on this story. Have you seen them skate? The U.S. couple is miles away the better pair.

Viture and Moir are good but not anywhere as good.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

27. The Ugly Canadian Olympian

Why do people usually so nice become arrogant, whining assholes every four years?

[underpants]

28. TESSA VIRTUE

A name so great I named my guitar Tessa four years ago when I started trying to learn to play during the last winter games.

[Are_grits_groceries]

29. They started this shite days ago.

They want an excuse if their figure skaters don't do well.