5. Quid Pro Quo
Since we’re already at Salt Lake City, it wouldn’t hurt to mention the figure skating voting scandal. Pair figure skating competition was won by Elena Berezhnaya and Anton Sikharulidze of Russia, but their victory raised suspicions. Canadians Jamie Salé and David Pelletier came in second because French judge’s score prevailed in Russians’ favor. The French judge, Marie-Reine Le Gougne later admitted she had been forced to vote the way she did by the head of French skating organization, Didier Gailhaguet. The deal was to favor the Russians in figure skating while they’ll return the favor in the ice dance discipline. This obvious quid pro quo deal ended with changed scoring system and couple gold medal winners. Some people, though, still believe that the Russians deserved their gold even without the interference.
