Members of the United States figure skating team will have to wait an unknown period of time — maybe even a day or more — before getting their hands on their silver medals they won in the team event at the Beijing Games.
With no reason given to the figure skaters, the ceremony was abruptly postponed shortly before it was to begin on Tuesday night, according an official from U.S. Figure Skating. The United States figure skaters and ice dancers had been dressed in their Team U.S.A. gear and were just about to leave for the ceremony when they were told to turn back, the official said.
A spokesman for the International Olympic Committee, Mark Adams, called the delay an “emerging issue” at a news conference on Wednesday. He said Olympic officials were consulting with lawyers and the International Skating Union, the sport’s global governing body, to resolve the matter.
“A situation arose today at short notice which requires legal consultation with the I.S.U.,” Adams said.
He added that the I.O.C. would provide an update later on Wednesday and that the issue “will become clearer.”
The American team, led by three-time world champion Nathan Chen, finished second behind the Russian team that dominated the event, which concluded on Monday. The Russian team was headlined by its newest star, 15-year-old Kamila Valieva. Japan was third in the team competition.
It was the best finish ever in the team event for the United States, which won bronze at the past two Olympics.
