1.   Gone are the days when elite skaters competed in the Winter Olympics, went on tour, joined the Ice Capades or coached and then faded gracefully into oblivion.

2.   Had the event been a week later, association officials say, odds are the skaters would have competed.

3.   If a U.S. skater is competing, NBC will be required to use a standard American flag rather than the tattered one from the World Trade Center.

4.   Now, the better skaters will compete in half a dozen or more.

5.   Once a skater competes in an event not sanctioned by the ISU, the skater loses Olympic eligibility.

6.   The qualifying rounds Monday were to determine which skaters would compete in the short and free programs.

7.   This year, in contrast to previous years, all skaters must compete in qualifications.

8.   In the end, both skaters competed in Lillehammer last February.