Australian beach volleyball Claire Kelly has rescinded her offer to have a corporation buy tattoo space on her body as a way to raise funds in her effort to qualify for the ’12 London Games. Kelly alluded that a governing body persuaded her not to place a corporate logo on her upper arm or shoulder, saying one of “the big guys” requested she pursue a different route to raise funds. She did not specify which organization the call came from. Kelly and her partner Carla Kleverlaan have until the end of the day Monday to raise US$10,500 to pay dues to join the FIVB World Tour. Kelly’s initial proposal offered sponsors an opportunity to mark a space on her body that would be displayed during competition. Kelly said she “technically could have gone ahead” with the original campaign, but she “would have had to cover it up.” She said she “did get a call from someone here based in Australia saying that I have to change the proposal as it stood.” Kelly has decided to change her proposal to a donation-based campaign where tattoo artists from around the world submit original pictures and donators are able to vote on which image will be permanently displayed on her body. Kelly admits that even with an original design, she may still have to cover the image during play. “I don’t know if they’ll classify it as commercial, but to me because it’s a picture and it’s different, it’s a design. Then they’ll probably have to cover up anyone who’s got tattoos at all.”
