USATF Meeting

conficius wrote:

Interesting discussion.

The javelin thrower Andreas Thorkildsen was sponsored by Adidas, but they didn't allow his other sponsor on his clothes so he cancelled and got a chinese sponsor.

I think it was simply Li Ning paying him more.

Augusto E. Perez wrote:

conficius wrote:

Interesting discussion.

The javelin thrower Andreas Thorkildsen was sponsored by Adidas, but they didn't allow his other sponsor on his clothes so he cancelled and got a chinese sponsor.

I think it was simply Li Ning paying him more.

He stated that Adidas wouldn't allow him to have his DnB Nor sponsor on shirts, suits etc.

"Adidas ville ikke ha med andre sponsornavn på drakten sin. Da sa Andreas Thorkildsen takk for seg, og ble med på laget til en tidligere kinesisk turner."

Translated:

Adidas wouldn't have any other sponsor names on their suit. Andreas then said bye, and joined the team of a former Chinese gymnast.

"–Li-Ning tillater meg å fortsette med min nasjonale sponsor DnB NOR og andre som har støttet meg gjennom hele karrieren. Det er jeg glad for å kunne fortsette med, skriver Thorkildsen på sin blogg."

Translation:

"-Li-Ning allows me to continue with my national sponsor DnB Nor and others that have supported me trough my career. I am happy to continue with that, Andreas writes on his blogg".

Li-Ning is interesting, he started up his American branch in Portland, less than a mile away from Nikes head quarter

Sorry to link to another site, but I have to catch a plane. Big news today http://www.trackandfieldnews.com/discussion/viewtopic.php?uid=242&f=1&t=45507&start=0

One liason said it's a great place to get laid.

And now he is totally screwed because Li Ning has ceased its sponsorship of elite athletes

USATF wants to regulate uniforms and what a person can wear at USATF championships.

Whaaat??

no li ning wrote:

And now he is totally screwed because Li Ning has ceased its sponsorship of elite athletes

Link?

Money and opportunity aside changing the uniform rules could have a very positive effect on elite running. Right now when you watch any pro-track race you have 6 Kenyans 6 Ethiopians and a hand full of Europeans and Americans with 2/3 of them wearing the Nike color of the year and 1/3 of them in Adidas day-glo and other sponsors colors. The problem is everyone looks the same! How can anyone follow it. The announcers can't even get it right. At least now people will be forced to wear different uniforms. Spectators/viwers will be able to identify an athlete in the pack and follow them.

I know some people criticize the East Africans of having not having media personalities but it is due to language barriers, but look at Asbel Kiprop, he looks like a fun guy. A creative kit may finally allow them express themselves a little more and have something unique about them. Look what Usain Bolt had done with his own artistic singlets. It brings excitement to the sport and Puma sees this and supports it. We need more of that.

Finally, this opens the door for athletes to market their own brand. NASCAR and Cycling allow sales of pro-gear with all the sponsors logos on them, there is no reason why Track can't. If Solinsky has a deal with Nike and Jack Links Jerky and he has a sweet uniform, there should be no reason why I can't get Solinsky singlet or shirt.

It's not going to change much at the top level. The top companies already demand exclusivity. I suspect they will not be flexible in this. People will not be forced to wear different uniforms, their existing ones are fine.

The biggest opportunity is going to come for athletes who are getting gear only, or no interest from shoe companies. Now they can at least try.

Ok , from what I hear and the readings here nothing happened but talk.

The usual dinners , drinks with USATF elite ( ass kissing and brown nosing ) , people positioning for whatever group they want to be part of for team and event travel.

Zero change on any level.

IAAF has to approve the big moves ( open logo sponsorship ) for the big meets with the greatest amount of exposure. This has to become a global effort with USATF as a driving force for change for US athletes to the IAAF.

With self preservation as the primary motive for survival in and around governing bodies , USATF wont lift a finger.

Press that cover events are afraid to loose ad revenue , walk away from the conflict. One group/individual that does a excellent job of covering the sport put out a ass kissing release that made me choke on the BS praise being dealt.

The athletes have to decide to make change happen. Maybe a sit out at a major televised track meet , cameras on just dont compete , just sit down.

That's not true that nothing happened. The IAAF has already approved a major logo change for 2012.

USATF rescinded their "uniform guidelines" for all but the Olympic Trials.

I was told that what we achieved was more remarkable than 1981 when they got women's race walk moved from the women's committee to the race walk committee (or something like that). Which probably says something about how long it usually takes to get something done, or maybe I am not appreciating how epic that was for female race walkers...

Anyway, stuff happened.

If you missed the Twitter explosion from the weekend, you can relive the excitement here:

Great to hear , bravo.

I think though before you get to excited get it in black and white with very specific guidelines of what the IAAF interprets as the change and how USATF interprets it.

Also get a mock up singlet , shorts , sweats , bag etc. to cover all your bases so all can understand exactly what can be done or not.

BTW , you may be the only person in the world that would think the 1981 race walk whatever was monumental. Like you effort though for working to bring on change.

Let's hear more about what transpired that benefits the sport , bring us up to speed please.