Stars speak out on Games sponsorship row

Bevan Docherty

Three of the country's highest-profile sporting stars are defending their right to profit from private sponsors as the standoff intensifies over Commonwealth Games contracts.

Yesterday Olympic medal winners Sarah Ulmer, Hamish Carter and Bevan Docherty broke their silence over the current stalemate.

They said that while the situation was "awkward" and "tricky", they had obligations to their own sponsors.

Docherty, Carter and Ulmer are refusing to sign their Commonwealth Games contracts in the row over sponsorship rights.

The contracts say athletes can only support advertising campaigns that involve NZOC sponsors during the Games and two weeks either side of the event, from March 15-29, in Melbourne.

Cyclist Ulmer said yesterday: "It's a really awkward situation. [NZOC's sponsors] are sponsors that invest in the games and they are essential to us as athletes and the success of the whole team.

"The existing [NZOC] sponsors have to be protected. But by the same token our own sponsors, who have looked after us for years and who don't want to capitalise on the event or ambush it, should be looked after as well.

"There's absolutely no way it's going to threaten our involvement, not at all. It's just a matter of knowing where everybody stands."

Triathelete Docherty agreed. He said the Commonwealth Games contract was "a little bit too harsh".

"The total blackout period is a bit too much," Docherty said. He has deals with Contact Energy, Team McMillan BMW and Avanti, as well as NZOC apparel sponsor adidas.

The Herald on Sunday understands that up to 16 personal sponsors face advertising freeze-outs as the NZOC tries to put a stop to unauthorised sponsors profiting from exposure.

Fellow triathelete Carter said the situation was relatively complicated.

"I don't want to break any contracts with my sponsors," he said.

Martin Gillman of Total Media, the company which represents Hyundai, sponsor of Carter, was more forthright. "We're questioning whether the NZOC has the right to limit their commercial activity. We provide support to the athletes. The NZOC contract is completely impractical and unworkable," he said.

However the NZOC's stance is that athletes have to take care not to put themselves in a position where their individual sponsorship deals are in conflict with team sponsors.

When asked whether he would opt out of the Games rather than break those contracts, Carter said: "If I went to the Commonwealth Games and came home and lost all my sponsors I don't know what I'd do.

"But ... I want to go [to Melbourne]. That's what motivates me. It's going to be a great race and that's all I'm thinking about and working towards now."

Docherty, who finished behind Carter for silver at Athens, highlighted the plight of an athlete in a relatively low-profile sport.

"I just want to make a living," he said. "I've only got a few years in the sport and I want to maximise my earning potential. But it's tricky."

Docherty said there was little danger that his appearance at the Games would be threatened by the row.

"The NZOC are trying to work with me. I can understand they're trying to look after their sponsors and they understand I have to look after mine. I'm sure we will come to a compromise."

NZOC secretary-general Barry Maister said there was no deadline placed on athletes to sign. He said he had had encouraging talks with Carter on Friday.

Maister said the issue cropped up before every major Games. "We've never failed to solve one. It's taken a little bit longer to solve this one but I'm confident we will."

Carter, Docherty and Ulmer are the only ones to have stalled.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY