Tuesday,
October 9, 2001
U.S. skaters out of Austrian event
Slam! Skating - Canoe.ca
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- Four U.S. skaters were withdrawn from
a competition in Austria this week because of the military action
in Afghanistan.
Singles skaters Amber Corwin and Justin Dillon and ice dancers Kimberly
Navarro and Robert Shmalo will not compete at the Karl Schafer Memorial
in Vienna, which begins Wednesday.
The U.S. Figure Skating Association said it withdrew the skaters because
of the "current world situation and in consideration with the
travel advisory issued by the U.S. State Department abroad."
USFSA president Phyllis Howard said her group will evaluate the participation
of U.S. skaters on a case by case basis. Meanwhile, preparations for
Skate America in Colorado Springs were continuing, USFSA spokesman
Bob Dunlop said.
Skate America, set for Oct. 25-28, will feature world champion Michelle
Kwan, Sarah Hughes and Sasha Cohen in the opener to the Olympic season.
U.S. men's champion Tim Goebel, Michael Weiss and Matt Savoie also
are entered, as well as Canadian pair Jamie Sale and David Pelletier,
the 2001 world champions.
Security likely will be enhanced for the event. Skate America features
an international field of skaters from China, France, Germany, Japan,
Russia, Uzbekistan and Israel.
Dunlop said no skaters have pulled out of the competition in the wake
of U.S. military action.
"Until we hear otherwise, everyone's still coming," Dunlop
said. "We have no indications people don't want to travel to
the U.S."
