Russians back off threat to leave

Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY – Russia announced Friday it will stay at the Olympics, withdrawing a threat to walk out of the Salt Lake City Winter Games over alleged judging bias against its athletes.

The decision ended 24 hours of political tension between the Russian federation and the International Olympic Committee.

“We will stay at the games,” said Guennadi Shvets, a Russian delegation spokesman. He said the decision was made before a meeting between high-level Russian officials and IOC President Jacques Rogge.

“Everybody understood we had to stay,” Shvets said.

Early Friday, the Olympic controversy escalated further, with Russia demanding a gold medal for figure skater Irina Slutskaya after American Sarah Hughes edged her for gold. The request was denied.

The Russians also warned that their hockey players had better be treated fairly in a crucial game against the United States. The U.S. team beat Russia 3-2 late Friday afternoon.

After the game, Russian coach Slava Fetisov criticized the officiating and the agreement that puts NHL referees in Olympic hockey games. Every U.S. goal came with the Russians playing a man down because of penalties.

“There’s not much you can do about it right now,” said Fetisov. “An agreement’s been signed that is designed to have a final between Canada and the USA. You have this final, you have NHL referees. … They live here and they know the North American players.”

The Russians also protested the disqualification of star cross-country skier Larissa Lazutina following a pre-race blood test.

Also Friday, the IOC persuaded South Korea to back off its threat to boycott the closing ceremony over the disqualification of short- track speedskater Kim Dong-sung.

“We are confident for the closing ceremony,” Francois Carrard, director general of the International Olympic Committee, said Friday night.

The Korean delegation said it filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration in Sport to overturn Wednesday’s ruling, which gave the gold to U.S. skater Apolo Anton Ohno of Seattle in the 1,500 meters. Kim crossed the line first but was disqualified for blocking Ohno a half-lap from the finish.

The appeal was to be heard late Friday.

“This appeal is the next step in the Korean Olympic Committee’s fight against the decision,” the organization said in a statement.

On Thursday, the South Korean Olympic Committee said it would “use all measures necessary to rectify the misjudgment,” including a boycott of the closing ceremony.

Early Friday, IOC officials met with the South Korean delegation.

“The Koreans very clearly explained that they are fighting for their position in front of the CAS is one thing, but in the Olympic spirit, being there participating in the closing ceremony, of course, is another thing,” Carrard said.On Thursday, Russian indignation spread all the way to the Kremlin, where President Vladimir Putin suggested there was a reason Americans were doing so well in the games – they had the judges on their side.

“North American athletes receive a clear advantage,” Putin said.

The IOC has tried to assuage the Russians, with Rogge writing a letter to Putin.

Rogge also went to the Olympic Russia House Friday to discuss the issue.

Shvets said the IOC will further discuss the Russia protests today.

At one stage Thursday, the Russians said they also might not attend the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

“Without Russia, the Olympic Games will be lost,” said Vitaly Smirnov, an IOC vice president from Russia.

Shvets said Thursday’s reaction was “more emotional” after the Lazutina disqualification.