11-02-2008, 12:12 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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-LIFETIME MEMBER-
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Gatineau, Quebec
Posts: 6,551
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Canada forced to change jersey for 2010 games?
And the logos as well?
Quote:
Canada may need new jerseys for 2010
Saturday, November 1, 2008
THE CANADIAN PRESS
Team Canada may be forced to play without its familiar Maple Leaf logo at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, the victim of an International Olympic Committee rule that is only now being enforced.
The IOC regulation forbids sport federations from displaying their logos on uniforms at the Olympics, which includes Hockey Canada's trademark Maple Leaf with a hockey player. Hockey Canada says it has been able to get around the rule in the past by having the Canadian Olympic Committee sign an exemption from Games uniform regulations.
But the COC says times have changed. The IOC strictly enforced its rules at the recent Beijing Games -- notably with the Brazilian and Argentine soccer teams -- and is expected to do the same in Vancouver.
"In the past three Winter Games, this wasn't the same issue that it is now," said Chris Rudge, the COC's chief executive officer. "In those Games, the IOC turned a blind eye to its own rules. That's no longer the case -- they made that very clear going into Beijing.
"It was a test case in Beijing with the soccer teams and it was very clear from the IOC that the rules now are the rules and they're not turning a blind eye to exemptions."
That's not good enough for Hockey Canada, which is unhappy at the COC stance.
"I can't believe that they're taking a chunk of history, especially when we're hosting it in our country," said Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson. "They're putting Team Canada at a disadvantage in its own country."
Rudge, however, says such hand-wringing is premature as the IOC has yet to deliver its final uniform specification details. And he says it's a matter to be resolved between the IOC and International Ice Hockey Federation.
A look at the Olympic Charter appears to back that notion. According to bylaw 1.6 of rule 51: "In case of special rules adopted by an international sports federation, exceptions to the rules mentioned above may be approved the IOC Executive Board."
The IOC did not respond to requests for further clarification while an IIHF spokesman would only say that the "situation is sensitive" and that it hoped to "solve this issue to everyone's satisfaction."
Nicholson, however, believes the COC's refusal to sign the same form as in past Games effectively kills any chance of Hockey Canada being able to use its logo on jerseys at the 2010 Games.
"Without that signature, it's showing that Canada doesn't support it so the IOC's certainly not going to," he said.
The issue is particularly important for Hockey Canada because it generates significant revenue through jersey sales and other sponsorships tied to the logo. No other Canadian sports federation would be impacted as strongly as it is by the rule.
"They're going to disrupt a huge part of our business," said Nicholson. "We give all of that money back to kids. We have not raised registrations for Hockey Canada for four or five years.
"And now because of this, that decision might happen."
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Why only now?! That's bullspit.
All of a sudden when Canada's hosting the games, it's a big deal.
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"It's not the way it's going to be. We have to be very, very patient and build this the right way. We have to go through a process. It may be painful. I hope it isn't. But we're prepared for all the bumps and pratfalls and potholes in the road ahead. I'm prepared for it anyway, or I wouldn't have come." - Ron Wilson, Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
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