Sponsors May Bar Athletes From Expressing Political Views
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Hall Expects USOC To Send Subtle Message
About Avoiding Sensitive Topics At Olympics |
Ahead of this summer's Beijing Olympic Games, USOC Marketing Coordinator Alison Barnwell said that although it is "uncommon for sponsors to bar athletes from expressing political views, that could change if the situation worsens in Tibet and more athletes begin to speak out," according to Katie Thomas in a front-page story in the N.Y. TIMES. Barnwell: "Especially if a company does business in China, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see them start adding in clauses that say athletes can’t make negative remarks about the situation." Barnwell added that the "free speech issue could be skirted ... by arguing 'they didn't want their sponsorship to become a political platform for an athlete.'" adidas Corporate PR Dir Anne Putz, in a statement, said that the company's Reebok brand "does not prohibit its athletes from expressing personal opinions." Putz: "Off the field, we never influence our athletes about their personal views." But Octagon Dir of Olympics & Action Sports Peter Carlisle said that "many contracts contain language that allows companies to cancel a contract if an athlete does anything to materially damage the company or its brand." Carlisle added that although the clauses "typically govern extreme immoral behavior, 'if that language is in there, theoretically, a company could argue that something the athlete says can trigger it.'" U.S. swimmer Gary Hall Jr., seeking to qualify for this summer's Olympics, said that the USOC "would send subtle messages about avoiding controversial subjects during athlete media and cultural training for the Games." Hall: "It's discouraged, that's clearly understood." Hall said that with USOC media training at previous Games, the athletes were "advised to steer clear of sensitive subjects." But IOC Dir of Communications Giselle Davies said that "athletes would not be punished for answering reporters' questions honestly" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/1).
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