Tom Daley takes 2:38 to tell us something we all already knew!!!

[Lady Whistledown]

"Cyclist Graeme Obree, who came out in 2011, said it was a "positive day", but warned Daley may lose sponsorship. Obree, who twice broke the world hour record, said: "We live in a really tolerant country." But the 48-year-old Scot said he had lost sponsorship deals that had been "signed and agreed" from "national companies with an international presence in countries that don't tolerate gay people". "

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/diving/25190813

I would imagine Graeme Obree lost his sponsorship deals not because he came out publically (which he did in 2011, at the age of about 46) but because he's been completely off the world class cycling radar for nearly twenty years. He can't possibly have had much sponsorship at all by this current stage of his career, never mind companies with an international presence.

 

[Stat Brother]

I would imagine Graeme Obree lost his sponsorship deals not because he came out publically (which he did in 2011, at the age of about 46) but because he's been completely off the world class cycling radar for nearly twenty years. He can't possibly have had much sponsorship at all by this current stage of his career, never mind companies with an international presence.

Not to mention the fact he's hatstand mentals. (in a nice way)

 

[HawkTheSeagull]

I would imagine Graeme Obree lost his sponsorship deals not because he came out publically (which he did in 2011, at the age of about 46) but because he's been completely off the world class cycling radar for nearly twenty years. He can't possibly have had much sponsorship at all by this current stage of his career, never mind companies with an international presence.

Judging by the fact I have/had absolutely no idea who is was until about 15 minutes ago - that kind of says it all.

 

[Goldstone1976]

Fairly sure Tom Daley doesnt have any sponsorship deals in countries where being Gay/Bisexual is wrong IE Russia or most of Africa.

In fact, he probably doesnt have many sponsorship deals at all anyway. If a company was to rip up his contract because he came out, the amount of negative publicity they would get would seriously harm the company - it would be pointless.

Only good can come out of this and within a week no one will probably care.

Daley is currently sponsored by Mini (BMW), Adidas and Nestle among others. I'm sure you're right that none of these global brands try to sell into Russia or Africa.

I agree that that there would be negative publicity if any of those three ripped up his contract. BUT, the negative publicity would probably be mostly in the UK (though possibly would spread to the US, which would be a much bigger problem for them). They would have to assess whether the potential loss of income from Russia, Africa and other regions that have a problem with gay people outweighs the negative effects of them pulling the money from him.

Legally, I would imagine they could if they decided they wanted to. Every sponsorship deal I signed had a clause that allowed me to pull the money if the recipient brought the brand name into disrepute, with me being the sole arbiter as to whether the recipient had.

Finally, even if they do continue funding him until the end of his existing contract, it's another matter entirely if he got a new one.

No. Very regrettably, his going public today will have cost him a great deal deal of money over the coming years; and, what's more, he will have been so advised.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Every sponsorship deal I signed had a clause that allowed me to pull the money if the recipient brought the brand name into disrepute, with me being the sole arbiter as to whether the recipient had.

Then you'd lay yourself open to an infinite amount more negative publicity via social media than the recipient of your sole arbitration ever would.

 

[joeinbrighton]

Tom Daley will be retired from diving after the next Olympics and I wouldn't be surprised if he went into the media after that which is a lucrative industry to get into, so I doubt any sponsorship he doesn't get will affect his income longer term.

 

[joeinbrighton]

Judging by the fact I have/had absolutely no idea who is was until about 15 minutes ago - that kind of says it all.

He was a cyclist who was around at the same time as Chris Boardman who I think won a medal in the pursuit at the World Cycling Championships with a bicycle made out of washing machine parts. Jonny Lee Miller portrayed him in a film called 'The Flying Scotsman' a few years ago.

 

[HawkTheSeagull]

Daley is currently sponsored by Mini (BMW), Adidas and Nestle among others. I'm sure you're right that none of these global brands try to sell into Russia or Africa.

I agree that that there would be negative publicity if any of those three ripped up his contract. BUT, the negative publicity would probably be mostly in the UK (though possibly would spread to the US, which would be a much bigger problem for them). They would have to assess whether the potential loss of income from Russia, Africa and other regions that have a problem with gay people outweighs the negative effects of them pulling the money from him.

Legally, I would imagine they could if they decided they wanted to. Every sponsorship deal I signed had a clause that allowed me to pull the money if the recipient brought the brand name into disrepute, with me being the sole arbiter as to whether the recipient had.

Finally, even if they do continue funding him until the end of his existing contract, it's another matter entirely if he got a new one.

No. Very regrettably, his going public today will have cost him a great deal deal of money over the coming years; and, what's more, he will have been so advised.

Simple for the companies - they dont use him to represent their brand in said countries which are behind with the times. Pathetic that it would have to come to this as its 2013 and the sexuality of someone who is promoting a product shouldnt matter.

He wont lose any money out of this and he probably is (and certainly seems like) the type of person to put his own life and happiness over money and companies - which is how it ultimately should be. Besides - a gold medal in Rio 2016 would change everything.

He was a cyclist who was around at the same time as Chris Boardman who I think won a medal in the pursuit at the World Cycling Championships with a bicycle made out of washing machine parts. Jonny Lee Miller portrayed him in a film called 'The Flying Scotsman' a few years ago.

No idea who either of those are too !!

Tom Daley will be retired from diving after the next Olympics and I wouldn't be surprised if he went into the media after that which is a lucrative industry to get into, so I doubt any sponsorship he doesn't get will affect his income longer term.

How'd you work that out ? He is 19 years old and Rio is in 2 years. Since divers carry on until they are in their 30s - he has over 10 years left yet.

 

[theyellowdinosaur]

Who actually cares, it makes no difference to anyone's life. The fact this has caused such a fuss shows how pathetic people in this country are. So what if he's gay, I don't see people all over the country talk about our soldiers dying, but everyone's talking about an average diver being gay.

 

[Goldstone1976]

Then you'd lay yourself open to an infinite amount more negative publicity via social media than the recipient of your sole arbitration ever would.

My primary responsibility was to my shareholders, not the twitterati. If a recipient had seriously damaged the brand I don't think I'd have had much choice but to pull the money. It would be hard to justify at an AGM paying someone who had done something heinous. It's for this reason that we screened all potential recipients thoroughly before granting any sponsorships and thankfully no recipient ever put me in the position where I had a decision to make.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

No. Very regrettably, his going public today will have cost him a great deal deal of money over the coming years; and, what's more, he will have been so advised.

I disagree. In fact, a couple of PR types have suggested on the news today that it might actually gain him sponsorship in some areas.

I think the difference between Daley and some other athletes is that he's already very heavily marketed and has a strong public profile. He has a best selling calendar to go with his (crap) TV show, and sells posters, apps and no doubt all sorts of other things by the bucketload, to both male and female admirers. He's also fortunate enough to be a very good looking boy, and his physical attributes are without a doubt what drives this.

Daley is not some washed up cyclist who nobody's heard of, or a retired NBA journeyman. He's effectively the David Beckham of his sport in that he's hanging around the top echelons without actually having been the absolute best, and whose looks are propelling his profile to higher levels. He's also (handily, given that it's Christmas shopping time) boosted his profile even more by today's announcement, which I'm sure is no coincidence.

If Nestle (say) were worried about his sexual preferences affecting their business in Nigeria, they simply wouldn't use him for their Nigerian campaigns, but would put his face on their Australian adverts instead. Simple. He's not going to lose out.

 

[joeinbrighton]

How'd you work that out ? He is 19 years old and Rio is in 2 years. Since divers carry on until they are in their 30s - he has over 10 years left yet.

How old was Greg Louganis when he retired? I don't think he was in his 30s. No way will Daley be competing past his mid-20s. I get the impression there are plenty of other things he wants to do with his life other than diving, especially as he took the sport up competitively at such a young age.

 

[Goldstone1976]

I disagree. In fact, a couple of PR types have suggested on the news today that it might actually gain him sponsorship in some areas.

I think the difference between Daley and some other athletes is that he's already very heavily marketed and has a strong public profile. He has a best selling calendar to go with his (crap) TV show, and sells posters, apps and no doubt all sorts of other things by the bucketload, to both male and female admirers. He's also fortunate enough to be a very good looking boy, and his physical attributes are without a doubt what drives this.

Daley is not some washed up cyclist who nobody's heard of, or a retired NBA journeyman. He's effectively the David Beckham of his sport in that he's hanging around the top echelons without actually having been the absolute best, and whose looks are propelling his profile to higher levels. He's also (handily, given that it's Christmas shopping time) boosted his profile even more by today's announcement, which I'm sure is no coincidence.

If Nestle (say) were worried about his sexual preferences affecting their business in Nigeria, they simply wouldn't use him for their Nigerian campaigns, but would put his face on their Australian adverts instead. Simple. He's not going to lose out.

You make excellent points, nearly all of which I agree with. The one area of possible disagreement is, say, what would happen if a major economy (Russia, for example) wanted to apply pressure on, say, Nestle for political reasons.

I do agree that Daley is a very attractive sponsorship candidate for all the reasons you cite. I do think however that today's announcement will have complicated his relationship with his sponsors, not eased it.

 

[HawkTheSeagull]

How old was Greg Louganis when he retired? I don't think he was in his 30s. No way will Daley be competing past his mid-20s. I get the impression there are plenty of other things he wants to do with his life other than diving, especially as he took the sport up competitively at such a young age.

Still, Rio certainly wont be his last Olympics. Just because Louganis retired "early" - doesnt mean Tom Daley will. The rest of your post is simply guess work to try and back up your wild prediction. Its pretty clear diving is his life otherwise he wouldnt have stuck with it for so long, he will only quit once he starts getting shit, and then he will probably have some sort of media career anyway - hopefully that wont include carrying on that god awful ITV show.

You make excellent points, nearly all of which I agree with. The one area of possible disagreement is, say, what would happen if a major economy (Russia, for example) wanted to apply pressure on, say, Nestle for political reasons.

I do agree that Daley is a very attractive sponsorship candidate for all the reasons you cite. I do think however that today's announcement will have complicated his relationship with his sponsors, not eased it.

Why should Russia have a problem with Nestle if they were using Tom Daley to advertise in the UK/Australia/US ? It isnt their country so quite frankly they wouldnt care.

 

[Socialist Sid]

I reckon it must be a bonus to be bi sexual.

Surely it doubles your chances?

 

[joeinbrighton]

Still, Rio certainly wont be his last Olympics. Just because Louganis retired "early" - doesnt mean Tom Daley will. The rest of your post is simply guess work to try and back up your wild prediction. Its pretty clear diving is his life otherwise he wouldnt have stuck with it for so long, he will only quit once he starts getting shit, and then he will probably have some sort of media career anyway - hopefully that wont include carrying on that god awful ITV show.

Rio in 2016 will be his third Olympics, will it not? I don't anticipate that there have been many divers competing for medals in the history of the Olympics who have come back and participated in 4 or 5 Olympic games. Rebecca Adlington retired from swimming at the age of 23 having only participated in 2 Olympics as she'd had enough of the routine of getting up to swim at 5:00 am every day.

As much as Daley likes his sport, there is a routine of training that he has to put himself through and I just think there will come a point when he feels he doesn't want to put himself through that and will want to pursue other opportunities that he has to put on the backburner all the while he is training or in competition.

 

[Goldstone1976]

Why should Russia have a problem with Nestle if they were using Tom Daley to advertise in the UK/Australia/US ? It isnt their country so quite frankly they wouldnt care.

You've missed my point. Russia wouldn't have to have a problem with Nestle in another country to seek to apply pressure. They would simply need to want to apply pressure on Nestle for any reason at all to be able to use the fact that Nestle sponsor Tom as a reason not to want them to sell their products in their country. I'm talking about using the fact as a political weapon.

Anyway; I hope it doesn't happen. Daley looks like a decent role model and deserves kudos for his decision to go public.

 

[beorhthelm]

If you honestly believe that Justin Fashanu and that American fella are the exception that proves the rule all footballers are straight, I've got some magic beans for sale.

It's a shame but hardly surprising no footballer has dare to break with convention.

read what i wrote - why not accept the possibility. its not a belief either way, im just open to the concept that the reason none have come out is because there aren't any. bear with me why.

There are thousands of pro footballers in the world, do you SERIOUSLY think that NONE of them are gay/bisexual ? The statistic was that 1 in 5 was LGBT isnt it - or so I read somewhere anyway.

first, the oft quoted statistic is 1 in 10, and secondly when you go rooting around for actual stats you'll find 6% from some older study and an ONS research a coupl of years ago of only 1%, 0.5% bi and some other number "dont know" which is supposed to be yes (...yeah, reliable conclusion). say 4000 pro/semi-pro footballers, that means as few as 40 would declare themselves outright gay, right?

but, thirdly, such stats are bollocks. they are based on the entire population, why assume they extropolate to the football world? do you believe 6% mechanics are gay? how about the reverse, all those industries that stereotypically have a high proportion of gays? in my experience media is rather over represented statistically. if you think about it, why would someone gay go into a profession that is percieved as hostile to homosexuals? so i reached the conclusion that its pretty likely there arent any footballers in the closet.

 

[HastingsSeagull]

He didn't say he was gay, he "of course still fancies women" he said, he's BISEXUAL......... it's different

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Who actually cares, it makes no difference to anyone's life. The fact this has caused such a fuss shows how pathetic people in this country are. So what if he's gay, I don't see people all over the country talk about our soldiers dying, but everyone's talking about an average diver being gay.

He's hardly an average diver!

Multiple European, Commonwealth and World titles and a bronze in the Olympics.

Of course someone is going to want to come out on their own terms. Imagine the press furore if he fancied doing something normal, like a date in town with his gentleman friend.