Sport and the Olympics hijacked by advertisers..

[vegster]

Recently I saw that Chariots of Fire is being re-released. I thought that this was a nice gesture as the London Olympics are just around the corner ( how many seconds ? There must be a countdown, sponsored by Accurist)… I was rather keen to go and see it for the inspirational stories it contained, trouble is.. It just dawned on me, its yet another cynical attempt to make some money as usual. I have no problem with capitalism general but suddenly it seems, the links between sports personalities and big business are getting dangerously close. Too close in fact.

Roger Federer is a fantastic tennis player and seemingly all round “good Guy “ but has anyone else noticed that immediately he finishes a match, while winding down and towelling himself, out comes a Rolex watch which he puts on. He does not need to know the time does he, its on the scoreboard and besides, he hasn’t got to be anywhere that soon . Its just another trade off to his sponsors. So play tennis, win or lose “ Must put watch On “ is his first thought, paid for by his sponsors. Today in The Times Andy Murray is there on a full page ad being linked to another brand of posh watch !

Slowly I’m coming to realise that sports stars are not really “ sponsored” as much as “ owned “ Tonight on the telly, I have had some Septic swimmer plugging Head and Shoulders and the fragrant Victoria Pendleton doing the same with a link to Pantene shampoo.

I think it’s gone too far, how can you be a sports person when you are available at the beck and call of corporate business ?

Let’s post these ridiculous tie-in’s, links, sponsors and partners.. Name and shame ….

 

[catfish]

ATOS are sponsoring the paralympics. This is the company which carries out the work capability assessment and has been declaring terminally ill & severely disabled people fit for work.

 

[vegster]

ATOS are sponsoring the paralympics. This is the company which carries out the work capability assessment and has been declaring terminally ill & severely disabled people fit for work.

That's a bit mean...

 

[catfish]

That's a bit mean...

It's bloody scandalous old bean.

 

[Dave the OAP]

It's a catastrophiSation.

Co twenty twelve.

Brilliant programme last night

 

[Questions]

Recently I saw that Chariots of Fire is being re-released. I thought that this was a nice gesture as the London Olympics are just around the corner ( how many seconds ? There must be a countdown, sponsored by Accurist)… I was rather keen to go and see it for the inspirational stories it contained, trouble is.. It just dawned on me, its yet another cynical attempt to make some money as usual. I have no problem with capitalism general but suddenly it seems, the links between sports personalities and big business are getting dangerously close. Too close in fact.

There would be no Olympics without big business Veg. The last time a country tried to go it alone was most likely the Moscow Olympics and that cost the people of Russia big time. It is the way of the world now with sport - it is a big commodity- so get used to it, stop bleating and why the f*** would you want to go and watch Chariots of Fire again. maybe you were like me and fell asleep the first time.
Roger Federer is a fantastic tennis player and seemingly all round “good Guy “ but has anyone else noticed that immediately he finishes a match, while winding down and towelling himself, out comes a Rolex watch which he puts on. He does not need to know the time does he, its on the scoreboard and besides, he hasn’t got to be anywhere that soon . Its just another trade off to his sponsors. So play tennis, win or lose “ Must put watch On “ is his first thought, paid for by his sponsors. Today in The Times Andy Murray is there on a full page ad being linked to another brand of posh watch !

Slowly I’m coming to realise that sports stars are not really “ sponsored” as much as “ owned “ Tonight on the telly, I have had some Septic swimmer plugging Head and Shoulders and the fragrant Victoria Pendleton doing the same with a link to Pantene shampoo.

I think it’s gone too far, how can you be a sports person when you are available at the beck and call of corporate business ?

Let’s post these ridiculous tie-in’s, links, sponsors and partners.. Name and shame ….

There would be no Olympics without big business Veg. The last time a country tried to go it alone was most likely the Moscow Olympics and that cost the people of Russia big time. It is the way of the world now with sport - it is a big commodity- so get used to it, stop bleating and why the f*** would you want to go and watch Chariots of Fire again. Maybe you were like me and fell asleep the first time.
And never ever bad mouth Victoria Pendleton on here again..... She has lovely hair.

 

[Badger]

I've now got a Rolex ad appearing at the bottom of the page...

 

[Questions]

I've now got a Rolex ad appearing at the bottom of the page...

It's probably a fake.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

as the London Olympics are just around the corner ( how many seconds ? There must be a countdown, sponsored by Accurist)…

Omega won't be happy with that.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Recently I saw that Chariots of Fire is being re-released. I thought that this was a nice gesture as the London Olympics are just around the corner ( how many seconds ? There must be a countdown, sponsored by Accurist)… I was rather keen to go and see it for the inspirational stories it contained, trouble is.. It just dawned on me, its yet another cynical attempt to make some money as usual. I have no problem with capitalism general but suddenly it seems, the links between sports personalities and big business are getting dangerously close. Too close in fact.

Roger Federer is a fantastic tennis player and seemingly all round “good Guy “ but has anyone else noticed that immediately he finishes a match, while winding down and towelling himself, out comes a Rolex watch which he puts on. He does not need to know the time does he, its on the scoreboard and besides, he hasn’t got to be anywhere that soon . Its just another trade off to his sponsors. So play tennis, win or lose “ Must put watch On “ is his first thought, paid for by his sponsors. Today in The Times Andy Murray is there on a full page ad being linked to another brand of posh watch !

Slowly I’m coming to realise that sports stars are not really “ sponsored” as much as “ owned “ Tonight on the telly, I have had some Septic swimmer plugging Head and Shoulders and the fragrant Victoria Pendleton doing the same with a link to Pantene shampoo.

I think it’s gone too far, how can you be a sports person when you are available at the beck and call of corporate business ?

Let’s post these ridiculous tie-in’s, links, sponsors and partners.. Name and shame ….

Seriously though.. what a load of whiney drivel.

If those shampoo ads, featured an un-named model, instead of a swimmer or a cyclist, what difference would it make to you? Would you consider them as having sold their souls?

These athletes are nothing like 'at the beckon call' of their sponsors. Not even close.

When my company (under the Tissot brand) had Michael Owen as an 'ambassador', I know that the deal was that he spent TWO days a year fulfilling his duties - photoshoots, meet and greets, etc. And of course he got free watches that he was obliged to wear. But why not? I'm struggling to se the issue frankly.

 

[Kumquat]

The Federer thing is hilarious. I'd never noticed until someone pointed it out. You can imagine him getting to the shower and going "Why did I put my watch on now when I was going to have a shower first? Oh yeah, I'm paid to".

 

[The Large One]

ATOS are sponsoring the paralympics. This is the company which carries out the work capability assessment and has been declaring terminally ill & severely disabled people fit for work.

It's true.

A friend of mine's brother was being treated for cancer; he was in no fit state to work, so was on incapacity benefits while on (expensive) medication. Over time, his condition worsened to the point that the doctors said his cancer was untreatable.

At that point, the medication was withdrawn (the done thing, I am told, as the medication was having no effect) and nature was left to take its course. However, because he'd had treatment withdrawn, ATOS declared him fit for work, and informed the Health Department to stop his benefit payments. He lived a little longer than the doctor's prognosis but still spent the final few months of his life without any extra state support; support he should have been entitled to.

 

[Eddiespearritt]

There is an issue for me though about McDonald's and Coca Cola using the Olympics to spread their message of making the world even fatter and more unhealthy. As for BP being the "green partner" of the Olympics after destroying the Gulf of Mexico, there is a great deal of hypocrisy in sponsorship.

But big sports events would never be so classy, and the likes of the Havelange's could never trouser big bribes, if the commercial landscape didn't exist.

 

[strings]

I find this advert perfectly acceptable:



[yt]Ke1Ilm6joO0[/yt]

 

[itszamora]

It's true.

A friend of mine's brother was being treated for cancer; he was in no fit state to work, so was on incapacity benefits while on (expensive) medication. Over time, his condition worsened to the point that the doctors said his cancer was untreatable.

At that point, the medication was withdrawn (the done thing, I am told, as the medication was having no effect) and nature was left to take its course. However, because he'd had treatment withdrawn, ATOS declared him fit for work, and informed the Health Department to stop his benefit payments. He lived a little longer than the doctor's prognosis but still spent the final few months of his life without any extra state support; support he should have been entitled to.

That's absolutely disgusting, but sadly no surprise. When you get bean counters rather than experts (ie medical professionals) to judge these things, especially coming from a mission statement, if you will, of saving money, that's the kind of thing that's going to happen. This government's single goal seems to be for their rich mates to ride out the self-inflicted recession as comfortably as possible, and to hell with the less fortunate people who are made to suffer. The weaker you are, the easier a target you are.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

ATOS are sponsoring the paralympics. This is the company which carries out the work capability assessment and has been declaring terminally ill & severely disabled people fit for work.

This is FAR more worth getting outraged about, than worrying over a GB athlete funding her training by agreeing to have a photo taken with a bottle of hair conditioner.

 

[Questions]

The sponsors of the National Young Athletes Leagues in athletics are MCcains - makers of oven chips and other similar type foods.

So.....

 

[vegster]

Seriously though.. what a load of whiney drivel.

If those shampoo ads, featured an un-named model, instead of a swimmer or a cyclist, what difference would it make to you? Would you consider them as having sold their souls?

These athletes are nothing like 'at the beckon call' of their sponsors. Not even close.

When my company (under the Tissot brand) had Michael Owen as an 'ambassador', I know that the deal was that he spent TWO days a year fulfilling his duties - photoshoots, meet and greets, etc. And of course he got free watches that he was obliged to wear. But why not? I'm struggling to se the issue frankly.

Thanks for all that input on a subject you feel is not an issue.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Thanks for all that input on a subject you feel is not an issue.

I'm sorry.

My 'input' was by way of explaining WHY, I feel its not an issue.

Is this thread only for people who agree with you?

 

[TheBlueAndWhiteStrips]

I can't see the problem with athletes, swimmers,cyclists and other Olympians getting a little bonus pay day, after all most are not on £60,000 a week like some top footballers, but they train just as hard.