IOC tells US Hockey goalie Jessie Vetter ‘We the People’ from helmet, says it’s ‘propaganda’
A hockey mask has been deemed unconstitutional as the International Olympic Committee, citing regulation, has required the Women’s goalie to remove an inscription bearing “We the People” on a custom mask made for her.
Jessie Vetter, age 28, has very patriotic Olympic mask with a large eagle on the side and features the famous line from the US Constitution.
Charter rules that state, in part: “No form of publicity or propaganda, commercial or otherwise, may appear on persons, on sportswear, accessories or, more generally, on any article of clothing or equipment whatsoever worn or used by the athletes or other participants in the Olympic Games .”
“It ruffles the wrong feathers, I guess,” said the mask’s artist Ron Slater to Fox News, who also paints custom masks for NHL.
Rob Koch, the communications director for USA Hockey, said the controversy is based on technical specifications and “has not been an issue for our players.”
“It is our understanding that this is not an issue about the patriotic nature of the image depicting the U.S Constitution,” Koch said. “The adjustment was necessary because the image did not meet IOC guidelines. It contained wording, which is not allowed on uniforms for any sports at the Olympic games.”
Vetter’s alterations — she was also required to remove a depiction of the Olympic rings and a Wisconsin Badgers logo, a nod to the University of Wisconsin, her alma mater — are not without precedent.
Four years ago, U.S. goalies Ryan Miller and Jonathan Quick had to change their masks. Miller had to remove the phrase “Miller Time,” and Quick had to drop the words “Support our troops.”
