I believe World and Olympic figure skating competitors should be all ages. What is your opinion? Cast your vote.

• Join the Discussion: Should figure skaters younger than 15 be allowed to participate in Worlds and in the Olympics?

The media has made the world aware about the controversy involving the ages of the Chinese gymnasts. National sports columnist, Tim Dalberg, has recently voiced his opinion on the age issue. I agree with his thoughts. Olympic participation should be open to all ages.

In 2008, some of the best figure skaters from the United States couldn't compete at the World Figure Skating Championships. US Pair Skating Champions Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker couldn't participate since McLaughlin was too young, and Ladies champion Mirai Nagasu and Ladies Silver Medalist Rachael Flatt were also too young to participate. Fortunatelly, those athletes will be old enough to participate in 2010, but why should anyone be cut off from participating in the Olympics due to his or her age? Swimmers don't have an "age rule," so why can't the same guidelines apply to figure skating and gymnastics?

• Join the Discussion: Should figure skaters younger than 15 be allowed to participate in the Olympics?

_{Rachael Flatt, the 2008 U.S. National Silver Medalist, and Mirai Nagasu, the 2008 U.S. Ladies National Champion, could not compete at the 2008 World Figure Skating Championships due to figure skating's "age rule."
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images}

Gymnasts, swimmers, divers, and runners have oportunities to enter mutiple events at the Olympics, but figure skaters don't have that chance. Wouldn't it be nice if single and pair skaters could receive separate awards for the short program and the free skate? There could also be an all-around or combined figure skating champion. Ice dancers could receive medals for the compulsory dance portion, the original dance, and the free dance. Perhaps individual jump or spin events could also be added? Team events, similar to gymnastiic team events, might make things more interesting. And....why can't the Olympics include synchronized skating events?

Gymnasts perform one vault and win an Olympic gold medal. Swimmers, divers, and runners have opportunities to win multiple medals. Figure skaters just have it so much harder. Why?

• Join the Discussion - Should figure skaters be given the opportunity to win multiple medals at the Olympics?

_{Sasha Cohen's Olympic Medal - Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images}

Cammie and Alex's Adventures in Skateland is a children's figure skating book about a young and very proud ice skater named Cammie. She likes doing jumps and spins, but does not like to practice basic ice skating skills such as edges, turns, and footwork. When she, and another skater named Alex, are told by their coach that they cannot compete in a competition since their fundamental figure skating skills need work, the children decide to enter the competition anyway. As they travel to the competition location, they end up going on a magical and scary adventure.

The idea and plot of the story is very original. Figure skating fiction does not usually include magic or witches, but the fairytale nature of the story make Cammie and Alex's Adventure in Skateland quite unique.

• Guide Review - Cammie and Alex's Adventures in Skateland

• Cammie and Alex's Adventures in Skateland

_{Cammie and Alex's Adventures in Skateland by Olga Jaffae - About.com PriceGrabber Shopping Image}