MILAN, Italy, Feb 10, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Japan has filed an official protest with Olympic organisers after the figure skating medal podium at the Milan-Cortina Games left athletes with chipped skate blades following the team competition. Figure skaters rely on their blades being finely tuned so that they can execute ultra-precise moves, and medal podiums are usually covered in rubber to protect the edges from damage. Japan team official Yosuke Takeuchi said the podium in Milan was "a rough, asphalt-like substance made of cut stone", which chipped skaters' blades when they stepped onto it for Sunday's medal ceremony. Takeuchi said on Monday that Japan had lodged a protest with the Olympic organising committee. "Repairs to the chipped blades were carried out this morning at a specialist workshop," he said in a statement, adding that skaters from each of the three medal-winning teams were affected.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha February 10, 2026 03:13 UTC