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Clijsters threatens to skip Olympics over clothing sponsor
Brussels, Dec 02: World number two tennis player Kim Clijsters will not represent Belgium at next summer`s Olympic Games after a wrangle over sponsored clothing.
Brussels, Dec 02: World number two tennis player Kim Clijsters will not represent Belgium at next summer's Olympic Games after a wrangle over sponsored clothing.
The 20-year-old said she will instead stay loyal to her own clothing sponsor rather than wear a rival company's offical Belgian uniform at the Games.
Clijsters yesterday said she wanted to ''remain fair'' to her sponsors -- Italian clothing manufacturer Fila -- after they had shown faith in her two years ago. She has repeatedly said she will not wear tennis clothing from Belgium's Olympic sponsor Adidas.
''As long as my clothing remains an issue, it is impossible for me to go to the Olympics,'' Clijsters said last month.
Yesterday she said she had reached a decision. ''I've decided not to go to the Olympic Games,'' she said in a diary for her official website.
''I want to remain fair to the people I made a contract with. They were the only ones who wanted me two years ago.''
The International Olympic Committee's Belgian president, Jacques Rogge said he would not intervene in the matter.
''It is a question of solidarity that all athletes participating in the Olympic Games wear the same uniform. I feel sad to hear that Clijsters will not be in Athens, but she is still young and I am sure that as time passes, she will reflect on that decision,'' Rogge told television channel VTM.
''She will realise she missed a real opportunity to win a medal, but I respect her decision.
''No, I will not try to make her change her mind, that is not my role. The Belgian Olympic Committee and Kim are big enough to solve the matter between them.''
Bureau Report
The 20-year-old said she will instead stay loyal to her own clothing sponsor rather than wear a rival company's offical Belgian uniform at the Games.
Clijsters yesterday said she wanted to ''remain fair'' to her sponsors -- Italian clothing manufacturer Fila -- after they had shown faith in her two years ago. She has repeatedly said she will not wear tennis clothing from Belgium's Olympic sponsor Adidas.
''As long as my clothing remains an issue, it is impossible for me to go to the Olympics,'' Clijsters said last month.
Yesterday she said she had reached a decision. ''I've decided not to go to the Olympic Games,'' she said in a diary for her official website.
''I want to remain fair to the people I made a contract with. They were the only ones who wanted me two years ago.''
The International Olympic Committee's Belgian president, Jacques Rogge said he would not intervene in the matter.
''It is a question of solidarity that all athletes participating in the Olympic Games wear the same uniform. I feel sad to hear that Clijsters will not be in Athens, but she is still young and I am sure that as time passes, she will reflect on that decision,'' Rogge told television channel VTM.
''She will realise she missed a real opportunity to win a medal, but I respect her decision.
''No, I will not try to make her change her mind, that is not my role. The Belgian Olympic Committee and Kim are big enough to solve the matter between them.''
Bureau Report