[Epoch Times, August 12, 2021](Reported by English Epoch Times reporter Alex Wu/Compiled by Takasugi) At the Tokyo Olympics awards ceremony, Brazilian men’s football team members are wearing American brand Nike sportswear, not sponsored by Chinese brands Sportswear, which caused a sensation in the Chinese Communist Party’s official media. The Brazilian Olympic Committee has vowed to take action against the Brazilian football administration in this regard.
Last Saturday (August 7), Brazil defeated Spain in overtime and won the men’s football gold medal for the second time. At the gold medal award ceremony, Brazilian football players all wore American Nike tops on the podium, while sportswear tops produced by China’s Peak Sport Products were wrapped around their waists.
According to reports, Nike sponsored the Brazilian football team and Peak sponsored the Brazilian Olympic Committee.
The Chinese Communist Party’s official media reported on a statement issued by Peak on August 8, accusing the Brazilian men’s football team of violating the agreement between Peak and the Brazilian Olympic Committee that all Brazilian athletes must wear a uniform with Peak when receiving medals. Company logo clothing, and no other brands may appear.
The statement also said that, regrettably, the Brazilian team made this move during the award ceremony, which violated the International Olympic Committee’s regulations on wearing approved uniforms to receive awards. And the Brazilian team did not communicate with Peak before the game. According to the statement, Peak has made representations with the Brazilian Olympic Committee on this issue.
Late on August 8, the Brazilian Olympic Committee issued a statement on the dispute, stating that “The Brazilian Olympic Committee does not support the attitude of the Brazilian Football Association and the national team members at the award ceremony.”
It also vowed to take action, “Only after the Olympics is over, the Brazilian Olympic Committee will announce the specific measures it will take to safeguard the rights of the Olympic Movement, other athletes and our sponsors.”
Brazilian football team captain Dani Alves responded to the incident on Instagram on August 9, but did not apologize for the team’s behavior. He said: “As the captain of this team, I respect the opinions of all other athletes, but there are also some things that we cannot accept in the sports field. We don’t want to be different from anyone, but we don’t accept some imposing things. When you want to make demands for your sport, please respect our sport… We want to be equal in approach, at least a balance.”
On August 10, the Chinese Communist Party’s official media reported that Lin Xiaoxiong, the head of Peak Sports brand, responded to Alves’s Instagram post. He criticized: “We cannot enjoy the glory of the Olympics while failing to abide by the Olympic rules.”
Editor in charge: Ye Ziwei#
.