Right of Cappelini/ La Notte are two JPN ice dancers, Rikako Fukase/ Ei Chu Chou (Oliver) and to their right next to the tree Kiria Hirayama/ Ari Tateno.
Left bottom there is forlorn looking lady holding Panda doll. The expression is that of surprise, more than anything else. The only time I saw that kind of shocked look in figure skating is 2000 NHK Ladies. When the winner was announced as Irina Slutskaya, instead of focusing on the winner, NHK camera switched to the "favorite to win", Maria Butyrskaya. She had an expression of shocked disbelief tinged with sadness, exactly as illustrator depicts here. I have forgotten the competitive details, but Maria's expression still haunts me, perhaps the illustrator as well.
HELP WANTED: Left bottom, There is a group depicted on a sled. I think the only girl on the sled is Narumi Takahashi who skated pairs with Melvin? Tran. Is Tran pulling the sled? Do you recognize anyone on the sled? What does the sled group signify?