En route to a meeting this morning, I tuned into CBC radio’s “BC Almanac” and heard an interview with Lawrence Champness from the 2UE radio station in Sydney, Australia. It seems that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) wants the Australians to take down the boxing kangaroo flag they have hung from the front of their athletes’ village in Vancouver. Our Australian brothers and sisters are understandably outraged.
Apparently, the IOC has a policy that forbids displaying registered trademarks. But wait a second here, isn’t the Olympic flag itself a registered trademark?
According to Wikipedia: “The boxing kangaroo is a national personification of Australia, frequently seen in popular culture. The symbol is also often displayed prominently by spectators at Australian sporting matches, for example at cricket, tennis matches and at the Olympic Games. The boxing kangaroo is owned and registered by the Australian Olympic Committee Incorporated, a ‘non-profit association’ … and is used as a mascot to represent the Australian Olympic team and to promote sport and fair play in schools.”
Makes you wonder doesn’t it? Doesn’t the IOC have more important fish to fry than to upset a group of young elite athletes who have dedicated years of their lives to reach this level of competition? Without them, the IOC wouldn’t have much to show off now would they!
It was heartening to hear the callers to CBC. One after another, they all pretty much said the same thing. This is ridiculous. Let them have fun! Lets all get small flags and place them on our antennas as a show of support.
Also encouraging is the fact that Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson has pledged to find somewhere else to fly the boxing kangaroo if the IOC decides the flag must be removed. Similarly, Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts has offered to fly the flag in her city.
To our friends down under, I say this: We Canadians are with you, 100%! Fly that flag. If they won’t let you, we’ll fly it for you from our cars and balconies. And if someone would send us a royalty-free image, we’ll hang one right here at Life As A Human.
Now … I think its time for a nice bottle of Australian Shiraz!
Related Stories
CBC Radio Podcast – B.C. Almanac Friday Feb 5th
The Province: Vancouver mayor backs Aussies flying boxing-kangaroo flag on athletes’ condo
Photo Credit
“Boxroo Pic” – Public Domain
Feature Pic – ajfis2’s photostream
It’s amazing how petty people can be. Perhaps the IOC should consider a ban on playing the national anthems at the podium as well. Kudos to mayors Robertson and Watts for their support of the Australian athletes and their flag.
Straya is the Boxing Kangaroo.. the whole fiasco is hilarious next we will get you guys chanting Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi Aussie Oi …… From cultural cringe to national pride and straight back again without blinking. nice trick
I’ll send it to my relos in Australia too! Hooray for boxing kangaroos!
I’m sending this post to my sister in Queensland