Picture credit score: GEPA Photos
Background: The Coloration Debate
A few 12 months in the past, the colour scheme of ski helmets turned a scorching matter. FIS President Johan Eliasch was sad with the “Purple Bull helmets” Marco Odermatt and others wore. He felt the design appeared an excessive amount of just like the sponsor’s product. Regardless of the talk, the rules remained unchanged, and the FIS didn’t limit the colour and design of helmets. Odermatt competed within the 2023/24 season with a barely modified helmet design to keep away from additional discussions.
Last Decision: New Guidelines
Now, they’ve resolved the matter. Based on Article 2.9.3 of the FIS guidelines on “Specs for industrial markings on tools,” the graphic design of helmets is just not thought-about a industrial marking. This rule doesn’t strictly regulate the colour and design of helmets. Nevertheless, level 3.1.2 states that the design should not depict or simulate the emblem or product of a producer or sponsor.
New Promoting Alternatives
New rules will present extra promoting area on helmets beginning in July 2024. Beforehand, athletes had 50 sq. centimeters for promoting on the entrance of the helmet. Now, they’ve a further 50 sq. centimeters for a second emblem on the entrance or sides of the helmet.
Particulars of the Change:
Earlier Regulation: The foundations allowed athletes to promote in a 50-square-centimeter space on the entrance of the helmet.
New Regulation: Athletes now have a further 50 sq. centimeters of promoting area out there, for a complete of 100 sq. centimeters.
Placement Choices:
Entrance: Place the second emblem above the prevailing 50 sq. centimeter promoting discipline.
Sides: Athletes can cut up the brand new 50-square-centimeter area into two 25-square-centimeter areas, one on all sides of the helmet, or use a single 50-square-centimeter space on both the left or proper temple.
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Athlete Reactions
Athletes and their managers are adjusting to this new regulation. Some, like Sandro Simonet, realized about it by way of skinews.ch. Non-squad athletes, like Simonet, don’t must share sponsorship revenue with their affiliation, making this rule significantly helpful for them. Joana Hählen, a nationwide group member, is in discussions together with her foremost sponsor about utilizing the brand new promoting area. “We athletes have at all times fought for extra promoting alternatives. It’s cool that we now have a brand new alternative,” says Hählen. Stifel US Ski Group’s River Radamus thinks, “I feel it’s a great factor. It exhibits that FIS is searching for new methods to assist the athletes garner extra income, however I feel extra might be performed.”
Advantages for Younger Athletes
FIS believes this rule will assist younger athletes. Alex Fiva, an athlete, says, “As a younger athlete, it’s simpler to seek out two smaller sponsors than one giant one. This alteration is a chance.” Extra revenue alternatives can result in larger earnings for athletes.
Swiss Ski’s Perspective
Swiss Ski helps the brand new regulation, seeing it as an opportunity for added advertising and marketing alternatives. Pascal Karrer, Deputy Head of Partnership & Sponsoring at Swiss Ski, explains that the brand new rights permit nationwide associations to determine the right way to go these alternatives to athletes. For the 2024/25 season, Swiss Ski athletes gained’t must pay further charges for the extra sponsor.
Worldwide Curiosity
The brand new rule has drawn curiosity from athletes worldwide, particularly in Norway. Previously, Norwegian athletes like Aksel Lund Svindal confronted points with nationwide affiliation sponsorship guidelines, which restricted particular person helmet sponsorships. The brand new regulation might change this observe, though Norwegian affiliation spokesperson Claes-Tommy Herland says they search “a standard resolution” with the athletes.
Ski Cross Inclusion
The rule change additionally applies to ski cross, extending these new promoting alternatives to extra athletes.
In conclusion, the brand new helmet promoting guidelines supply extra alternatives for athletes to earn sponsorship income, benefiting established and younger ski racing athletes.
