Rochette cleared to skate in exhibition
Last Updated: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 | 4:38 PM ET
By Jesse Campigotto, CBC Sports
Joannie Rochette has been cleared to participate in a televised exhibition event by figure skating's governing body.
The International Skating Union had reportedly threatened to punish Rochette if she took part in the unsanctioned Thin Ice show after electing to skip the world championships, but the organization backed down Tuesday afternooon.
"We appreciate the ISU worked with us to find a solution for this situation," William Thompson, the CEO of Skate Canada, said in a statement.
"We want to thank the ISU for their consideration and understanding in reviewing this in light of Joannie's situation."
Rochette announced Monday she won't compete at next week's worlds in Turin, Italy, citing the emotional and physical toll she endured in winning Olympic bronze at the Winter Olympics shortly after the sudden death of her mother, Thérèse.
The Canadian champion performed a personal tribute in the exhibition gala following the competition in Vancouver, skating to a Céline Dion song that was one of her mother's favourites.
Rochette planned to reprise the performance for the made-for-TV Thin Ice event that will air on the U.S. network ABC this weekend. The show, though, is not controlled by the ISU, whose rules prohibit figure skaters from skipping ISU events in favour of exhibitions.
The ISU ultimately decided to relax its regulations for Rochette.
"Joannie's reasons for not competing at worlds make total sense," CBC figure-skating analyst Pj Kwong said. "She had to deal with her mother's funeral and has not been able to stay trained and prepared in the way she would like to. For me, as a skating person, I also know that being prepared or an exhibition is not as difficult as being prepared for worlds.
"I don't think there is a person out there who would feel that Joannie isn't entitled to anything that would help her in her grief, and that includes the tribute skate for her late mother in the Thin Ice special."
But, Kwong added, the ISU had a point. The governing body's regulations say a skater and/or her federation can be punished for not giving priority to ISU-sanctioned events with television contracts, such as the world championships, for which CBC holds the Canadian broadcast rights.
"The rules are in place for a reason," Kwong said. "Without the benefit of TV exposure and the money that TV brings in to the sport and to the skaters via prize money, the sport could start to collapse.
"Big-name skaters at a competition draw an audience, and the viewing audience draws in advertising and sponsorship dollars which help the skaters achieve their goals and the sport to grow."
