Yes... in fairness to Lepisto I would like to suggest that the thread title be changed to something like, Again Top Skaters Lend Presence to North Korean Event.
Yes... in fairness to Lepisto I would like to suggest that the thread title be changed to something like, Again Top Skaters Lend Presence to North Korean Event.
Yeah, France is too! Japan-born Yuko skated there last year. She must have joined the party together with Seiko Lee, who is and was a Japanese national while singing in Pyongyang. You people didn't know? I wonder who is narrow-minded after that.Originally Posted by Spun Silver
Tomas Verner went to North Korea as well? And Plushenko!? The fee must be very, very good. There's this Japanese magician called Princess Tenko who was once married to Jean-Claude Van Damme and she was invited to perform for Kim Jong-il twice, first time in 1998 and second in 2000. The second time she was called, according to her, she feared that they were going to forbid her to go back to Japan because Kim Jong-il liked her so much, but Kim Jong-il had a European doctor who helped her by convincing the officials that Princess Tenko was ill and had to go back to Japan so she managed to get back. When Kim Jong-il died, she was invited to attend the funeral but refused the invitation. Knowing this story, and also knowing that an unconfirmed number of Japanese people were kidnapped by the regime and forced to teach Japanese to spys (http://www.rips.or.jp/english/public...ives/pp010.pdf), I'm really surprised that these skaters go.
Last edited by hurrah; 02-21-2012 at 12:47 PM.
France? Oh dear. Looks like figure skaters are on the cutting edge of new Franco-NK ties.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France%...orea_relations
Jesus... How did the French dancers P/B enter the country last year and this year if their French passports are not officially recongnized in North Korea (I understand it's always the case if the countries don't have diplomatic relationships)? Now it's getting interesting....
Well, not like she's 12 or anything...Since Lepistö doesn't live in Korea and would not suffer if she spoke out against the Kim regime, one would hope that she might have the strength to say "No, thanks" when offered a chance to make money while North Koreans starved. I'm disappointed that she didn't, but from children I don't expect much more. When a young athlete or singer is awake enough to realize that this is an ethical issue, I'm thrilled.
LOL, could not agree more... Anyway, maybe a witch hunt should go for the Champions On Ice which organizes skating shows in various countries and invites skaters to participate in them.
Lepistö says that she took part in the North Korean festival on invitation by the Champions On Ice organisation, which organises figure skating events all over the world.
^ This. I m surprised Lepisto is singled out since other famous skaters went. Although I find like last years with Tomas critics over the top for a show.
I dont like to judge but yes I dont like they went there. Since the audience is not just a simple audience so you would think you give some joy to people but they are probably selected officials etc. As I didnt like Bejing 2008 games either, 10% of the city bright and beautiful and behind the scenes people starving in unhuman conditions. Hypocricy has many faces. I dont go that far assuming the skaters approve of the political situation because they skated there. Did they thoroughly approve of China's political situation when they went to Shen/Zhao show? I m not comparing both countries by any means. Just thinking one can see it many different ways.
Last edited by seniorita; 02-21-2012 at 01:47 PM.
I agree that Champions on Ice should receive the brunt of the scrutiny
Btw, I thought COI didnt exist anymore, this is another Champions on Ice?
Well, the reason why Lepistö is singled out is because this was a huge issue in Finland, as in Tshek when Verner participated. Other countries don't seem to care what their skaters do. I understand that Russia and China are North-Korea's allies, though.
The tour Champions On Ice was an international tour long before it went to be just the US. COI US Tour was bought up by Stars on Ice but I think Tom Collins and crew still produce shows outside the US?
This is tricky. The other side of the argument holds that cultural exchange with countries suffering under despotic regimes does more good than harm in the long run. The policy of isolating the bad guys from the rest of the world only causes the dictators to dig in, while making things worse for the people and making change, gradual or abrupt, even less likely.
It's the title of the article referenced in the Original Post and is also shared on the front page of Golden Skate.
I also just remembered how the Japanese national football team talked about their time in Pyongyang last year when they played the North Korean team. Apparently, they were stripped of all electronic gadgets upon arrival and then taken to a posh hotel. And there was this huge mirror in each room, and the players said that they thought they were being watched from behind the mirror. They said they knew this because e.g., one player made a remark in the room that he had felt cold because the blanket was too thin, and a thicker blanket promptly was placed on the bed. Similar things occured to other players as well. And it spooked the players so much that some of them had to go to their team mate's room to sleep because he was too scared to sleep alone. Each player was assigned a 'guard' or two (can't remember number) who followed them everywhere during their time in Pyongyang. The team lost to North Korea 0-1 although they had roundly beaten them in a match that took place outside of North Korea. They said that they felt something bad might happen to them if they won.
I think it would be too difficult for these skaters to make a political stand because they would then always have to live with the fear that the regime might try and harm them in some way. Princess Tenko apparently asked for police protection when she was back in Japan and she and also her family members continued to get contacted by someone from North Korea on occasion.
Still, I'm just really, really surprised that they would go in the first place, so they must not have known what they were setting themselves up for and didn't know how scary that place could be.
Last edited by hurrah; 02-21-2012 at 02:42 PM.
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