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Russians to sue U.S. TV networks

Pairs skaters say pictures
of them are being shown
with alleged mobster

ASSOCIATED PRESS

      MOSCOW, Aug. 2  Russia's Olympic pairs champions plan to sue
U.S. television networks for using pictures of them in connection with
coverage of a reputed Russian mobster accused of trying to fix two
figure skating competitions at the Winter Games.

         ANTON SIKHARULIDZE AND Yelena Berezhnaya spoke on Russian
television channels Friday, but it was not immediately clear which
networks the pair planned to sue.
       "I saw our pictures appearing on the screen while they were
talking about some kind of Russian mafia," an angry Sikharulidze said.
"Together with people who are working with us, we are preparing to sue
the television channels."
       Russian Olympic Committee spokesman Gennady Shvets told The
Associated Press that its officials and lawyers met Friday to work out
a strategy for supporting the athletes' lawsuits.
       Shvets derided the U.S. charges against Tokhtakhounov, saying
they were "absolutely stupid" and "funny as a cartoon" "After the
uproar calms down, they will realize that all this is sheer nonsense,"
he said.
       Sikharulidze and Berezhnaya beat Canadians Jamie Sale and David
Pelletier in the pairs at Salt Lake City. A French judge said the next
day she had been pressured to vote for the Russians, who slipped
during their routine while the Canadians were virtually flawless. The
scandal led to a duplicate set of gold medals awarded to the Canadian
pairs team.

       Alimzhan Tokhtakhounov was arrested Wednesday by Italian police
on U.S. charges of conspiring to buy off Olympic judges.
Tokhtakhounov, an Uzbek-born Russian citizen long living abroad, is
accused of scheming to persuade a French judge to vote for the Russian
pairs team and a Russian judge to vote in turn for the French ice
dancing team. Both teams won gold medals.
       Sikharulidze said neither he nor Berezhnaya nor anyone else on
the Russian Olympic team had contacts with Tokhtakhounov. He called
the charges "yet another political action."
       The charges against Tokhtakhounov have been ridiculed by
Russian sports officials, athletes and public figures. They
interpreted them as a continuation of what was widely seen in Russia
as unfair treatment of its athletes in Salt Lake City by both Olympic
judges and the U.S. media.
 Adverti***t  

         "It's time for the Canadian and U.S. people to calm down and
be happy with the (duplicate) gold medals they were given as a gift,"
said Sikharulidze, his voice strained with emotion. "These people must
be happy with the gold medals they were awarded I don't know what
for."
       With Berezhnaya standing next to him at St. Petersburg's
airport, Sikharulidze contended the U.S. television networks were
profiting from the latest charges against Tokhtakhounov to widen their
audience.
       "This scandal will benefit the TV people and show organizers
since it helps raise the public interest in figure skating and
increases attendance as people want to see these 'mobsters on ice,""
Sikharulidze said.

----------

As a long time skating fan, I don't like this at all.  However,
Anton's remarks are out of line.  I think most U.S. and Canadian
citizens should vote with their wallet; that being don't patronize
shows with these skaters.

[snip]

i wasn't aware that the Americans were awarded a gold medal in pairs.  
does this mean there's a third set we're not aware of?

given how gracious S&P have been toward B&S since this whole thing
started, i think this is a horrible thing to say.

there was no "gift".  S&P had the superior performance.  period.

angela
--
http://webhome.idirect.com/~rouquinne/

I am entirely with Anton. The TV trick to mention Anton and Yelena in the
same breath with that Tokhtakhounov scum was very low and disquisting and it
only shows how the US/Canadian media work. Anton didn't mean to insult
American/Canadian people and his statement was very emotional and is fully
justified.

Cezar

Folks don't like bad news, especially if they don't really have any control
over it and what has happened isn't really their fault.  This matter MUST be
investigated, but I understand how much this must hurt for them.  They've
worked a lifetime for their medal and its validity is now clearly in serious
doubt.  They would have been much better off if they'd gotten their
well-earned *silver* medal, honestly acquired, in the first place.  Their
entire life's work is now being thrown in a dirty light, and that must be
just devastating.

However, his comment does not reflect clear thinking.  He doesn't seem to
realize that it was Italy, not the US or Canada, which dragged this all back
up again, and that Italy wasn't even really focusing on figure skating when
they uncovered the evidence.  Neither the US nor Canada have anything at all
to gain in particular by discrediting the sport of figure skating - and that
is certainly a likely outcome of these investigations.   This is very bad
for the sport - but it's absolutely essential.

Very emotional, yes. Fully justified, puhlease! This mobster is accused of
attempting to arrange a trade of votes between dance and pairs. Now, don't
you think it's fair to mention which pair was the supposed beneficiary of
this criminal largesse? And from the quote, he DID insult the American and
Canadian PEOPLE (not press). Maybe Anton should calm down and be happy
that nobody has accused him (personally) of anything, even though he may
very well have received his gold medal because of dubious dealings.

--
Chris M. Hall, Assistant Research Scientist
Dept. of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan

Quando omni flunkus moritati

I read on another newsgroup that the Russian female skater's name was
mentioned in a wire tap of a conversation the mobster guy had.

Maria

If Anton was not personally involved in anything, why should he be happy that
"nobody has accused him (personally) of anything"??? This is some twisted
logic.

(personally) of anything, even though he may very well have received his gold
medal because of dubious dealings.>

In the complaint, there is mention of a conversation with an unnamed
French ice DANCER who speaks in Russian, who won an ice DANCE gold medal
for France (gee, I wonder who that could possibly be?). It is almost
certainly not Elena.

--
Chris M. Hall, Assistant Research Scientist
Dept. of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan

Quando omni flunkus moritati

Because he is protesting about abuse which is non-existent and making
unwarranted threats. He is claiming that Canadians (and for some strange
reason, Americans) should calm down and be happy with the "gift" of a gold
medal. I personally think he should just "take a stress pill" and shut up.
If he keeps up these sorts of comments and threats, some people may give
him something to really complain about.

--
Chris M. Hall, Assistant Research Scientist
Dept. of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan

Quando omni flunkus moritati

ice DANCER who speaks in Russian, who won an ice DANCE gold medal for France
(gee, I wonder who that could possibly be?). It is almost certainly not Elena.>

This is what's probably driving B&S insane. When the taped conversation with a
*female Russian ice skater* is discussed, THEIR picture is shown. Naturally,
people who aren't familiar with ice skating (and can't tell the difference
between ice dancing/pairs) would assume it was Elena who was a willing
participant in this crime.

"nobody has accused him (personally) of anything"??? >

unwarranted threats.<

1. Do you consider constantly showing B&S pictures while discussing Anissina's
("Russian ice dancer's) alleged involvement "non-existent abuse"? The viewers
are likely to assume that Berezhnaya is the female skater in question. My
roommate already has.

2. What threats by Sikharulidze are you referring to? A threat is a term that
should be used carefully. Please be specific. What I hear is some irrational
statements coming from an extremely upset person - not threats.

That's not much basis for a lawsuit.

Threat to sue?

Lewis.

Well, your roommate should listen more carefully. Remember, B&S are an
essential part of the story. How much "hand holding" do people watching
the news need? Aren't they responsible for listening to what is actually
said? Do you want to require all news organizations to stop and say "by
ice dancer, we don't mean pairs skater, so please don't get confused
between the two"? Do you want them to say "by French ice dancer who used
to be Russian and who happens to speak Russian, we don't mean Russian
pairs skater, who also happens to speak Russian"?

The specific threat is to sue some unnamed US television networks. I
personally don't think they have a leg to stand on, especially in a US
court (which is the only sane jurisdiction).

I have yet to see any credible information to suggest that anyone has
accused either Anton or Elena of any illegal or unethical conduct. I do
happen to think that their present outburst is at best stupid, and at
worst self destructive.

--
Chris M. Hall, Assistant Research Scientist
Dept. of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan

Quando omni flunkus moritati

Oh come on.  How would you like it if after all that you had been through,
there is finally an answer to how the judging was messed with in SLC and there
is a suspect and then YOUR name appears with this person?  Especially when the
networks are getting the picture of the wrong person?   Elena and Anton have
been through enough.  I think they have every right to speak out in anger. At
this point, who cares about political correctness?

What is going to make you happy?  Do you want Elena and Anton to give their
medals back and retire from skating?  I think that your comment is entirely out
of line.

debatable.  There were four other judges besides the French judge who thought
Elena and Anton were superior.