International Skating Union To Honor Athletes Killed In Plane Crash When Boston Hosts World Champs

Figure skaters and others killed in the mid-air collision near Washington, D.C. this week will be honored when the world championships are staged in Boston in March.

International Skating Union president Jae Youl Kim held back tears on Friday in making the announcement during the European championships in Tallinn.

Skaters, coaches and family members on their way back from a national skating camp in Wichita, Kansas, were among those who died when a passenger jet hit a helicopter on Wednesday. They included two teenage skaters, their mothers and two coaches who were part of the Skating Club of Boston .

"At the moment we want to focus on mourning those who lost their lives and also provide support for the ones who lost their loved ones. We'll take one step at a time," said Kim, who became visibly emotional and paused to fought back tears as he told The Associated Press about the impact of the crash on the skating community.

"We will discuss with our counterparts in Boston what should be done to honor those who left us in this tragic way. One way to honor them is to make sure that we provide the greatest event, to show the respect."