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Canadian gold tarnishes Olympics for Russians

Last Updated Sun Feb 17 00:16:39 2002

MOSCOW - After initially expressing joy that Canada will share Olympic gold with Russian athletes because of a judging scandal, Jean Chrétien skated much more cautiously Saturday when wrapping up a trade mission to Moscow.

Many Russians are furious over the decision to elevate Jamie Salé and David Pelletier from silver to a first-place tie with the Russian pairs skaters Yelena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze.

The highly unusual revision in standings was announced Friday by officials at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, after an investigation into rumours that a judge had been pressured into voting for the Russian team.

The Canadians will get their gold medals Sunday night during a special ceremony, Olympics officials said Saturday. The presentation will take place five days ahead of the previously scheduled date.

FROM FEB. 15, 2002:

Gold for Sale and Pelletier stirs world reaction

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Valentina Matviyenko blamed American public opinion for what she called "a disgraceful fuss" over Russia's gold.

The Russian newspaper Izvestia called it a Canadian media smear campaign, and some citizens in Moscow said Russia had been robbed.

"It's hurtful," said one man about the decision. "It's not possible to have two gold medals in one sport," said his friend.

Some other people in Moscow, however, backed the decision to give Salé and Pelletier gold.

"I saw the performance of our Russian couple and the Canadians," one man told CBC TV. "The Canadian couple was skating more precisely."

"Everything should be honest," added one woman. "And how they were judged was not honest."

When asked about the decision at a news conference Saturday, Prime Minister Chrétien denied there was any controversy. He also said he has not discussed the issue with any officials in Moscow.

"We won the medal. We're happy," he said. "Don't try to keep something as a dispute."

On Friday, Chrétien sounded much upbeat: "I'm happy, congratulations to both of them, and hallelujah," he had said.

One reporter told the prime minister Saturday that some people in Russia believe the awarding of two sets of gold medals was merely a political decision.

"It's not the first time there was a revision of a decision at the Olympics," Chrétien responded.

For the past 38 years, Russian Olympic skaters have dominated in the pairs competition. A journalist for Russia's national television network, NTV, said he thinks that's why Russians are now target of discrimination.

"We won the medal in a fair fight," said Yevgeny Ksenzenko. "We fought, and we won."

The International Olympic Committee made the decision to award a second gold medal on the recommendation of the International Skating Union, which had reviewed evidence that a French judge had been pressured into favouring the Russians.

Marie-Reine Le Gougne, the judge in question, was suspended indefinitely.

While the Russian medallists complain they've been unable to enjoy their golden moment, Salé and Pelletier told reporters Saturday that there's no feud with the Russians.

"As far as our relationship with Yelena and Anton has been in the past, we've always said 'good luck' to them before we stepped on the ice," said Salé "We always say congratulations. I'm not going to feel awkward."

One journalist asked whether the Canadians would be prepared for a "skate off" against the Russians, which prompted a rebuke from Pelletier.

"This is not about us and Anton and Yelena," he said. "Don't create a situation that doesn't exist. This is about us getting a chance to be judged fairly."

Written by CBC News Online staff

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