Empty Suits

The United States is the only major country whose Olympic committee does not receive any public funding, relying only on contributions - many of which come from the same evil corporations that make America a nasty place to live in.  And, given that several corporate officers serve on the board of this non-profit institution, running it with a conservative business model, the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) is actually proud of this dubious distinction.  The USOC has subsisted on a budget that comes from taking what the International Olympic Committee (IOC) sees as more than our fair share of the IOC's money from broadcasting rights and global sponsorships - specifically, 12.75 percent of U.S. broadcasting  rights and 20 percent of IOC global sponsorships funding 40 percent of the USOC’s four-year operating revenue.  This leaves less money for other national Olympic committees, and for the longest time, the IOC suggested - no, demanded - that, if we Americans want to see the Games back in the  U.S. of A. any time soon, then the USOC should simply take less money for itself from the IOC and do what normal countries do . . . let the government fund the difference.  But, as you already know from reading this blog, we Americans are not normal.  We elected a movie star to the White House and bought oversized four-wheel-drive wagons for urban motoring.  

So it shouldn't have surprised anyone that the United States Olympic Committee, in its lust for corporate support, would accept those Olympic team uniforms from Ralph Lauren that you've been hearing about.  The controversy over the uniforms concerns the fact that they were made in China, and many politicians feel, with some justification, that, if Ralph Lauren's company can't profitably make in America the clothes it sells in the department stores, it should at least have had the Olympic team uniforms made in America.  The USOC bought the uniforms - they weren't donated - and some fashion trade insiders say they could have been made domestically at a competitive price.  Besides, it's one thing to buy a Chinese-made Ralph Lauren shirt at the mall and another thing for an Olympic athlete to wear a Chinese-made Team USA uniform, right?  So, despite charges of hypocrisy, there is some validity to the outrage.

But that's hardly the biggest problem.  The real story, for anyone who missed it, is the fact that Lauren's company chose to include an embossed Polo logo on the left breast of the uniform coat - and it's rather conspicuous, making it easy for people to see . . . particularly in the inevitable TV close-ups you'll see of Team USA when it marches into the stadium in London.  (Free advertising!)  That is, this Olympic uniform design is shameless self-promotion masquerading as an act of patriotism.  

And what's up with those berets? They look more suitable for a military elite!

Oh yeah, those aren't models.  Those are actual Olympic athletes.  Anyone notice 2008 Olympic decathlon champion Bryan Clay - who didn't make the 2012 team - second from left?  Although the Lauren company has vowed to make the uniforms for the 2014 U.S. Winter Olympics team in the U.S., the damage to the reputation of Ralph Lauren the man and Ralph Lauren the company has been done.  Pity, I've always liked Ralph Lauren clothing.

This is what happens when you let big business completely take over something like the national Olympic movement.  You get cheap commercialism, rampant greed, and the transparently phony idea that it's all about the athletes and their pursuit of personal fulfillment and national pride, as well as serving the public interest. 

Yes, the IOC and the USOC settled their differences recently.  But as far as I'm concerned, we don't deserve to host the Games again. I don't even think we deserve to compete in the Games again.