The Japanese Olympic Committee is still outraged over the way snowboarder Kazuhiro Kokubo wore his Vancouver Olympic uniform in “hip hop” style last month and proceeded to scold Japan’s skiing officials about tightening up its morals.
From Yahoo! Sports:
Dreadlocked boarder Kazuhiro Kokubo narrowly escaped being kicked out of the Games after arriving with his trousers pulled low on his hips, shirt hanging out and his tie loose.
The 21-year-old with double nose piercings was banned from attending the opening ceremony and forced to apologize at a news conference before finishing eighth in the men’s halfpipe.
A senior Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) official said on Monday apologies were not enough.
“All members of the (Ski Association of Japan) must provide strict guidance to the athletes,” JOC secretary general Noriyuki Ichihara told reporters on Monday. “The JOC will also try to lend its weight to the moral education of the athletes.”
Wow, I couldn’t imagine what the JOC presided over all American athletes if they’re upset over how Kokubo dressed. They probably would have petitioned our government to shut down the entire freaking country after Pacman Jones’ fourth arrest.
Japanese snowboarder Kazuhiro Kokubo, who is expected to contend for a medal in the 2010 Winter Olympics, was banned from the welcoming ceremony in Vancouver after Japanese Olympic Committee officials weren’t pleased with his dress attire.
From Yahoo! Sports:
With his sagging pants, untucked shirt, and loosened tie, Kokubo looked like any sloppily dressed 21-year-old. But that’s not going to fly. According to one Japanese Olympic Committee official, “It is not the way the Japanese delegation should dress themselves while taxpayers’ money is spent on them.” Uh-oh.
Kokubo, who is expected to contend for a medal, was banned from a welcoming ceremony in Vancouver after there were complaints about his clothes. The snowboarder followed that up by saying the Olympics are “just another snowboarding event,” and that they are “nothing special.” Uh-oh again.
When I first read this, my thought was who cares? He’s a 21-year-old snowboard – how else do you expect him to dress?
But after giving it more thought, it’s nice to see that the Japanese Olympic Committee is taking this seriously. The Olympics are not only about competing for your country, but also representing it both in and out of events. How hard is it to wear your suit the right way when you’re out in public? Especially when taxpayers are footing your bill to compete.
Trey Kerby of Yahoo! Sports put it best in the above article:
The anti-authority stance permeates snowboarding, but there are certain times when you have to play nice. One of those times is the Olympics. Your country is paying for you to represent them. You get the chance of a lifetime to do something hardly anyone else gets to do. And it’s all free. Pretty sweet deal. So just go with the flow.
Well said.
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