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Posted on 03/05/2006 7:32:38 AM PST by paudio
STOCKHOLM, March 2 (Reuters) - Sweden could lose their Olympic gold from Turin after breaking IOC sponsorship rules during their homecoming celebration three days ago, the Swedish Olympic Committee (SOK) said on Wednesday.
The Swedish hockey federation showcased their own sponsors rather than those of the Swedish Olympic Committee (SOK) during Monday's celebrations at Medborgarplatsen in south Stockholm.
IOC rules state that only Olympic sponsors are allowed during the Olympic season, which officially ended on Wednesday, despite the last sporting events taking place on February 26.
"SOK will do everything so that Tre Kronor (the Sweden team) don't run the risk of losing their medals, but SOK does not own that question," the Committee said in a statement.
"The hockey federation has created the problem by breaking IOC commercial rules...(But) SOK will not take the case to IOC, and if anyone else does we will do everything in our powers so that Tre Kronor don't lose their medals."
Earlier Swedish media reports had suggested SOK would report the team to the IOC.
The ice hockey federation chairman earlier said that no rules had been broken.
"Our commitments end once we travel home from the Olympics," Christer Englund told the news agency TT.
IOC vice chairman Gunilla Lindberg, a Swede, did not think her committee would have to be involved.
"The Olympic movement has rules and they should be applied, but I don't think anyone is interested in changing the result lists," she told news agency TT.
Well, that would be a royal load of crap if it happens.
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Sure, slap them on the wrist, but to take away the medals for this would be the epitome of hipocracy
The Olympic committe risks becoming a laughing stock if they yank a Gold Medal over after the fact financial "concerns".
Finland would be laughed at for accepting gold.
The IOC is already a laughingstock. This would make it even more so. A good way to further ruin Olympic Hockey would be to take the medals away.
They could fine them, but taking away their medal would be assinine
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Sports have become tawdry and dull since the introduction of "Professionalism" and "Sponsors". Want proof? Just watch the Rugby or the Cricket. Or, for that matter, Ice Hockey (my passion).
Olympics? Shyeah, right, mate. Used to mean something to somebody. I care not a fig.
The Olympics are a bit like the UN or the Belgian "court of justice". A politicized delusional group.
So the "federation" violated a rule after the games and they are gonna punish the athletes by taking the gold medal they earned ?.......One more reason IMHO to stick a fork in the Olympics and call in done. Bureaucratic Bean-counter BB Brain BS...... Fine or file suit against the hockey federation for their advertising violation. Don't punish the team members for what they didn't have a say in.
I'm happy this is over for another four years. It was boring when it wasn't silly.
So the Olympics Committee is taking the role modeled NFL/MLB's complete lock on sponsorship one step further? ROFL! Jerks.
"IOC rules state that only Olympic sponsors are allowed during the Olympic season"
Meaning the Olympics is not about sports but about money.
Agreed! Sounds as if fines are in order. No need to punish the players here.
When I was a kid, we used to be glued to the set to watch them. Now, it's just another program.
Plus, you have guys like Bode Miller showcasing that "true Olympic spirit." /s
With his 'tude, he should have stayed home and given someone else a shot.
When I heard that while in Turin, athletes couldn't be seen (even away from the event/venue) drinking or using a non sponsor item, I thought-that was crazy..
If you got caught drinking an RC Cola instead of a coke, you could be kicked out of the Olympics..yowsa.
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