There's no denying the Olympia brand of ice resurfacing machines and Resurfice Corp, the family-run business which produces them, has taken a big hit from the debacle at the Richmond Oval.
It's one thing for something to break down or otherwise malfunction when nobody's looking. It's quite another when the problem occurs in front of a full house of paying customers, global television audiences, international media and the world wide web.
When mistakes happen at the world's largest winter sports event, they get attention. And on that note - this is a public relations disaster for Olympia, Resurfice and Vancouver 2010. That cannot be debated.
What needs some sorting out, however, are the facts surrounding the problems at the Richmond Oval, site of the Vancouver 2010 long-track speed skating competition.
Untruth #1: The Olympia is an American product. Correction: It is manufactured in Elmira, Ontario by a Canadian company, Resurfice Corp, owned and operated by the Schlupp family.
Untruth #2: The Olympia is made by General Motors. Correction: Resurfice Corp has a strategic relationship with General Motors, using GM parts in assembling the Olympia.
Untruth #3: The maker of Olympia -- and it's not GM -- is new to this. Correction: Founded in 1985, Resurfice Corp has been making inroads in the new ice resurfacing marketplace, especially since 1995 when it became the official supplier at General Motors Place in Vancouver, home of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League. Olympia machines are working the other Vancouver 2010 ice venues, notably Canada Hockey Place (the clean designation required by the IOC), the Pacific Coliseum and UBC Thunderbird Arena.
It is true that Olympia was chosen largely on the strength of its corporate connections with General Motors, a domestic sponsor of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Organizing Committee. That was also the case 15 years ago when it earned the gig over Zamboni at General Motors Place, currently one of five NHL venues using the Olympia.
It is also true that the battery-powered Olympia Millennium Cellect machines in question were being showcased as part of VANOC's commitments and obligations around environmental sustainability.
Yet to hear newscasts referring to Olympia as American and U.S.-based Zamboni as Canadian and to read stories slamming General Motors as the makers of the Olympia means the problems at the Oval are being compounded by Olympia-sized errors in reporting.
www.TheSportMarket.biz
The Sport Market on TEAM 1040 and teamradio.ca
Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 12 noon PT
No comments:
Post a Comment