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| Clijsters Chooses Fila Over Belgium |
After threatening last week not to participate in next summer's Athens Olympics, WTA Tour player Kim Clijsters yesterday wrote on her Web site that she in fact will not play because the Belgian Olympic Committee (BOC) "prohibits its athletes from wearing apparel not made by team sponsor Adidas." Clijsters' deal with Fila "stipulates she can only play in the company's clothing." Clijsters: "I want to remain loyal to the people with whom I have closed a contract. They were the only ones interested in me two years ago." The BOC has "tried to negotiate with Clijsters, Fila and Adidas" (AP, 12/1). But Fila Senior VP/Global Communications & Sports Marketing Howe Burch said, "We have not been contacted by anyone from the [BOC] in trying to resolve this matter. Something like this might be able to be resolved, but in the end it's going to be Kim's decision." IOC President Jacques Rogge, a Belgian, said that he "would not intervene in the matter." Rogge: "I will not try to make her change her mind, that is not my role. The [BOC] and Kim are big enough to solve the matter between them." Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne is already under contract to adidas (ESPN.com, 12/1). In Charlotte, Scott Fowler gives Clijsters his Doofus of the Week award for the move to forgo the Olympics (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 12/2).
