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Olympic row over Redgrave statue plan
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| Steve Woodbridge and the disputed design |
RESIDENTS have been forbidden from honouring British sporting hero Sir Steve Redgrave with a particular statue because it may break Olympic copyright laws.
The townsfolk of Marlow Bottom have been lobbying for years to build a monument in honour of the five times gold medallist, who has lived in Marlow Bottom all his life.
The residents have collected a pot of money and commissioned local artist Steve Woodbridge to create a piece of artwork recognising the rowers momentous achievement - winning five gold medals at five consecutive Olympic games.
However, in the same week that the Beijing Olympics begin, the British Olympic Association has refused to give the project its blessing, meaning that the statue cannot be built.
Peter Borrows, chairman of Marlow Bottom Valley Residents' Association, said: "For God's sake, what is this about?
"We're stuck here eight years after Steve achieved what he achieved."
One of the conditions imposed by Wycombe District Council when they granted planning permission for the statue was that Marlow Bottom Valley Residents' Association, which is organising the project, seeks the approval of the British Olympic Association (BOA).
Malcolm Blanksby, Wycombe District Councillor for Greater Marlow approached the BOA on behalf of the residents' association.
However, the BOA refused to give permission as the design for the statue incorporated an element that was too similar to the Olympic emblem of five interlocking rings.
The International Olympic Committee owns the copyright to the rings emblem. However, it was the BOA which refused to give approval on its behalf.
The Marlow Free Press+ approached Cllr Blanksby, but he did not want to comment.
Peter Borrows said: "I can understand that people say they look a bit like the Olympic rings, but it never occurred to us that there might be a problem."
Mike Williams from Goodwood Rise, Marlow Bottom said: "We've been playing the diplomatic card for a good 12 months now and to be honest we've got to the point where we can't see where diplomacy is going to get us.
"We've held off on going to the 'papers on the grounds that we didn't want to rock the boat, but diplomacy doesn't seem to have an effect on these people anyway."
Mr Borrows said that when Sir Steve won his fifth gold medal in 2000, he made a small tribute to the town celebrity.
"Before he came back we painted five gold medals on the wall by the Rebellion brewery to welcome him back.
"While I was doing it a car drove up with an American tourist inside.
"He asked me what I was doing, and when I told him he said, If this was small town America they'd have a statue of the guy here already.'
"That's the American attitude - they celebrate success. We only want to do the same."
The Marlow Free Press contacted the BOA on Tuesday. By press deadline we had received no response. We also tried to contact Steve Redgrave, but he is in China for the Beijing Olympics.
12:30pm Friday 8th August 2008
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CommentPosted by: SBJones, Wycombe on 7:40pm Fri 8 Aug 08
to hell with the BOA, do it anyway why cant we honour one of our local heroes, the council isnt even paying for it so make the statue and stick it in a local garden that will upset the tossers!
to hell with the BOA, do it anyway why cant we honour one of our local heroes, the council isnt even paying for it so make the statue and stick it in a local garden that will upset the tossers!
Posted by: Plus ça change..., Wycombe on 9:17am Sat 9 Aug 08
People should just let his unique achievement speak for itself.
People should just let his unique achievement speak for itself.
Posted by: Steve, Totteridge Hill on 10:05am Sat 9 Aug 08
Put it up!
Posted by: George - Wycombe on 12:48am Sun 10 Aug 08
With the Olympics now on, what a great opportunity to create a world wide stink.
To celebrate one of, if not, the world's greatest Olympian is wrong, what is the point of the Olympic games.
I don't think the British Olympic Committee has the right to refuse, the case should be raised with the International Olympic Committee by the MEDIA NOW.
The media create their stories to discredit many sports persons and entertainers, now is their chance to do something useful to right something that is certainly wrong.
With the Olympics now on, what a great opportunity to create a world wide stink.
To celebrate one of, if not, the world's greatest Olympian is wrong, what is the point of the Olympic games.
I don't think the British Olympic Committee has the right to refuse, the case should be raised with the International Olympic Committee by the MEDIA NOW.
The media create their stories to discredit many sports persons and entertainers, now is their chance to do something useful to right something that is certainly wrong.
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