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I.S.U. To Meet in Four Days To Discuss Skating Controversy

Aired February 13, 2002 - 13:33   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Talking about the controversy, describe it as white hot, it continues again today surrounding the Olympics and the pairs figure skating. Back to Rusty Dornin, picking up more news at this point -- Rusty, what are you learning?

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the press conference is still underway with the International Skating Union, and the president, Ottavio Cinquanta, has been taking questions from reporters, basically is saying that the ruling will stand in the competition, and that -- however, he is calling for -- or will suggest some proposals to a meeting of the council in four days, on the 18th.

Now, many of the reporters were saying, doesn't this demand some kind of urgency, shouldn't there be some kind of meeting before this? He is saying no, it doesn't warrant it. There is no reason for me to demand a meeting sooner than four days from now. He also challenged reporters questions about that the credibility of the Skating Union could be challenged in this case. He said that they don't feel their credibility has been challenged at all.

He also has stepped back from calling it any kind of investigation, and only that it is an assessment of what happened during that competition. So apparently, they are being pretty firm and stonewalling any efforts for any kind of independent investigation. They feel that he did say that they feel in their own home, as he called it, that they can produce better results or a better inquiry than any independent can -- Bill.

HEMMER: So, Rusty, as the facts stand right now, the medals from Monday night can't be reversed, and as far as the rest of the Games are concerned, they will continue along the same pattern of judging as they have in previous competitions, right?

DORNIN: That's right. Unless -- when he talked about this proposal that he is going to give to the council, he would not give any details, other than to say that it could possibly possibly be regarding the way that they determine future outcomes or future judging. But he would not give any details of what this proposal is, and is pretty much stonewalling any questions about what is going on.

HEMMER: Have you been able to pick up what they would change if indeed they change anything, Rusty? I mean, how do you make it more objective rather than subjective? DORNIN: Well, it would be -- I think the question is that some of these -- the judges are volunteers, and obviously they would be more subject to any kind of, perhaps, bribery, any kind of deals, and that sort of thing. Some people have suggested that if you make them professional judges, you wouldn't have these problems coming up. Now, as before, it will be interesting to see how the International Olympic Committee sees this, and whether they might step in and force the I.S.U. to do something about it.

HEMMER: Okay, Rusty. Listen, the Games have been great. I mean, the competition has been absolutely wonderful every day and every night, watching it, but this just adds to it. Rusty, thanks. Rusty Dornin, live in Salt Lake. Keep us posted on what is said, and what is being asked and answered out there in Salt Lake throughout the day. Rusty, many thanks again.

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