While a number of stars and national teams are in conflict with the Norwegian Skiing Association over national team agreements and so-called “image rights”, the biathletes are largely satisfied with their sponsorship rights. – We have a lot of freedom, while at the same time contributing to the biathlon association otherwise. In many ways, we give and take a little from each other, and therefore all parties are satisfied, says Johannes Thingnes Bø. Norway’s biggest biathlon star has of course caught on to the noise, and on Thursday evening he posted a humorous jab at Johannes Høsflot Klæbo on Instagram, where he showed off a new national team uniform with an Uno-X logo, and wrote: “Here you have a uniform with a logo you can wish for for Christmas”. Photo: Screenshot Instagram Klæbo thinks he could assert himself Thingnes Bø, like Klæbo, has a private sponsorship agreement with Uno-X. The big difference is that the Norwegian Ski Ski Association is also sponsored by the petrol station chain. Therefore, there is no internal conflict. The cross-country skier followed up by replying that “it is at the top of this year’s wish list” and “asked whether time must not be spent on shooting until next year”. – We are following the news in the Ski Association at the moment. The fact that Klæbo is not allowed to wear the badge on his suit is fine, but then I thought I could send him a Christmas present greeting. It was well received, smiles Thingnes Bø. – It’s probably a joke, but could he be good at biathlon? – Yes, of course he could. He is a tactician. If you are good at cross-country sprints, and also assert yourself over distance, then you have what it takes to be good at biathlon. The door is open, says the biathlete. – They are sitting at the same table with their sponsor. It was probably a little tease, that “yes, you can come over to us, then”. Here we have a good time, says elder brother Tarjei Bø about the stunt. And Klæbo himself says he is ready to get some tips from the biathletes. – It looks as if Kongsvinger is the place to live to be good at biathlon. For next season, I have to rent into Johannes’s basement to get shooting tips. I certainly have a bit to learn here. I’m looking forward to it, says Klæbo to news. STARS: Johannes Thingnes Bø and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo met King Harald together in Holmenkollen last year. Photo: NTB Win-win for athlete and association Although there is great harmony in the biathlon camp, they are not unfamiliar with conflict over athlete contracts. In 2019, they refused to sign because they disagreed with precisely private marketing. This meant that they were able to draw up new contracts and at the same time they also had the opportunity to have more private sponsors. The total of nine in-house advertising marks they now have are on the forearm of the suit, the buff, the gun sight, the gun bag, shooting strap and arm strap and ski strap, both sides of the roller ski helmet and ski bindings. – I strongly believe that the best athletes must play on the same team as the association. In my case, I have done it for many years, and there has been little fuss. It has been a good investment from both my side and the association’s. Both have benefited from that, he says. This is the conflict between the ski stars and the Norwegian Ski Association. The Alpinists and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo are in conflict with the Norwegian Ski Association over marketing rights and the national team agreement. The conflict has been going on for several years, and mainly deals with the question of the extent to which the performers themselves are entitled to their own image rights. A statement from the Norwegian Ski Association’s legislation committee in winter 2022 gave the athletes complete victory in a dispute over image rights. It states that the athletes and NSF must agree on the extent to which the association will be allowed to use the athletes’ image rights in commercial agreements. This means that the athletes have the right to greater influence in NSF’s negotiations with sponsors. What the athletes are now waiting for is for the parties to negotiate a new national team agreement that is in line with the legislative committee’s statement in 2022. Although they have not yet signed a new contract, the athletes are subject to their previous contracts due to a clause that regulates the duration of the agreement . In September, Lucas Braathen nevertheless stood up in a campaign for a competitor to one of the Ski Association’s sponsors. It must have caused strong reactions. On 27 October, Braaten announced that he was quitting. In April, Klæbo turned down the national team. After several months of negotiations around a long-term representation agreement, it became clear this autumn that Klæbo will be able to make use of a standard representation agreement this winter. This means that he will have great commercial freedom between the World Cup weekends. Big brother Tarjei Bø says they regularly discuss the news around lunch after training sessions. – When there is a sport that is close to our hearts and lives, we have a lot of thoughts about it. What I have already said a little bit, that it is perhaps possible to meet the athletes a little halfway in the Skiing Association, says Bø, and continues: – That does not mean that our association is the fait accompli, but I think it is important to cooperate a little, so that everyone is happy. If everyone is happy, then the sponsors are happy, the athletes and the association. I think that creates the most interest and the most new income, both for athletes and associations. SEASON READY: Brothers Tarjei Bø and Johannes Thingnes Bø. Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB Greater freedom The Biathlon Union is also clear to its sponsors that they do not “own” their athletes all the time, and believe that and close dialogue are part of the reason why they have avoided the major conflicts in recent years. – We have good headroom, we can have good discussions, and we don’t always agree. But we otherwise have respect for each other and know that it is the ecosystem that keeps the wheels in motion, both for the elite and the general public, says communications manager Emilie Nordskar to news. This is the wording in the biathletes’ contracts: – We are clear that we do not hold the property rights to the athletes’ name and image 365 days a year. It is the runners who do it. It is also more important now in recent years with the opportunities in social media. When the runner is not performing under the auspices of the Biathlon Union, he or she also has the right to consult his or her own “image rights”, explains Nordskar, and adds: – This means that, legally speaking, we cannot refuse an individual runner to enter into an agreement with a competitive business. So far the activity takes place when the runner is not engaged in biathlon-related activities.
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Johannes Høsflot Klæbo jokes about transfer after Johannes Thingnes Bø’s sting – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
