Skaters honor DC plane crash victims at the start of Speed Skating World Cup in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The International Skating Union is hosting the Speed Skating World Cup at the Pettit National Ice Center. 

Before hitting the ice on Friday, Jan. 30, organizers paid tribute to the victims of Wednesday's mid-air collision. 

"To lose so many members of our community in this way brings sadness beyond words. ladies and gentlemen, tonight we stand in solidarity with our figure skating family," said the skating union's president. 

The crash in DC has hit the skating community particularly hard. Several figure skaters were on board the American Airlines flight that fell into the Potomac River on Wednesday. 

Just before the races started up, a moment of silence was also held for all 67 victims that lost their lives.