quentinA Boxing Kangaroo Fiasco
February 10th 2010 05:45
Sport Talk has recently become dismayed at the debate and controversy surrounding a large Boxing Kangaroo symbol being hung at the Athlete's Village at the Winter Olympics
To fill everyone in, the Australian Winter Olympic team has flown a large banner containing the team's mascot from the window at the athlete's village. The IOC decided to complain about it and request it's immediate removal saying that it was a commercial symbol.
The Boxing Kangaroo is a symbol that is synonomous with Australia and sport ever since the 1983 America's Cup when businessman Alan Bond flew it after Australia II won the cup. The symbol was then bought by the AOC in 1992 when Alan Bond was bankrupt and the symbol was then registered as a trademark.
This is the symbol in question as hung at the athletes village:
Now look, I will say that as the trademark is registered it could be deemed to be a commercial however I do think that in this instance, the IOC have got it horribly wrong.
It is a symbol of team spirit. It is a symbol which is synonomous with Australia. It is a symbol that adds colour to an otherwise dull Vancouver skyline and it is a symbol that seems to be a favourite of Canadians.
I have since read that the IOC have withdrawn their request to the Australian team to remove the Boxing Kangaroo and really this is a victory for commonsense. The only questions I have with regards to this are as follows:
Why make a big deal about it in the first place?
Who's idea was it to have it removed??
How does it infringe upon the rights of teams to express themselves???
All I can say is that this was an absolute kerfuffle over nothing and it frankly disappoints me that there was even a debate about this. Also, it's an interesting sub-plot to the Winter Olympics but lets get the action underway.
To fill everyone in, the Australian Winter Olympic team has flown a large banner containing the team's mascot from the window at the athlete's village. The IOC decided to complain about it and request it's immediate removal saying that it was a commercial symbol.
The Boxing Kangaroo is a symbol that is synonomous with Australia and sport ever since the 1983 America's Cup when businessman Alan Bond flew it after Australia II won the cup. The symbol was then bought by the AOC in 1992 when Alan Bond was bankrupt and the symbol was then registered as a trademark.
This is the symbol in question as hung at the athletes village:
Now look, I will say that as the trademark is registered it could be deemed to be a commercial however I do think that in this instance, the IOC have got it horribly wrong.
It is a symbol of team spirit. It is a symbol which is synonomous with Australia. It is a symbol that adds colour to an otherwise dull Vancouver skyline and it is a symbol that seems to be a favourite of Canadians.
I have since read that the IOC have withdrawn their request to the Australian team to remove the Boxing Kangaroo and really this is a victory for commonsense. The only questions I have with regards to this are as follows:
Why make a big deal about it in the first place?
Who's idea was it to have it removed??
How does it infringe upon the rights of teams to express themselves???
All I can say is that this was an absolute kerfuffle over nothing and it frankly disappoints me that there was even a debate about this. Also, it's an interesting sub-plot to the Winter Olympics but lets get the action underway.
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