Quote:
Originally Posted by fredr123
Forgiveness if this has been covered elsewhere, but does anyone know the rules with respect to private sponsorships of Olympic athletes? We hear all about Shaun White's awesome private half-pipe built for him by Red Bull. Are there no similar opportunities for private companies to support Canadian athletes?
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In the world of marketing Canada is small fish. We have roughly the same population as California state. Add to it added expense marketing in two languages, or one (but then you lose a province of 8 million due to language laws). Also add that our dollar traditionally does not have much buying power, and our taxes are higher generally than the US.
As you can see the cost becomes not worth it quickly. The US has 10 times the market base, with all the above benefits Canada does not. When you talk about sports like snowboarding, where some but not all people follow, you are really looking at very little money here.
The only exception is hockey to some extent. Almost all Canadians would mortgage their life to see and play hockey. Even then it is probably marginal budget compared to US Football, or Baseball.
Sorry, I am with you, I want a level play field with the Americans and Euros, but it is not going to happen at that level ever.
EDIT: Sorry if you are talking about private Canadian companies only. However, like I said above, I think the market buy back is small, compared to the cost ($100s of millions).