Thursday, October 01, 2009

Conservative Olympic majority master-plan revealed

When people would say that Stephen Harper’s master plan was to hold onto power through the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, and then ride the post-Olympic euphoria to electoral fame and majority glory, I’d always scoff. What does the Olympics have to do with confidence in the federal government, I’d ask? How, pray tell, would, say, gold in Men’s Hockey translate into gold for a guy who has just been talking about writing a book on hockey?

Well, I’ve been proven wrong, with the unveiling today of the new logos and clothing for Canada’s 2010 Olympic team. Now, the strategy of the Harper master plan is all too clear.

For fun, take a look at the following four items of clothing. Can you guess which are official Team Canada Olympic gear on-sale at The Bay, and which are official Conservative Party gear on-sale at their C-Store?
UPDATE:

A Liberal MP is alleging that "crass politics" have resulted in a Canadian Olympic retail logo that mirrors the federal Conservative party logo.

Vancouver Liberal Hedy Fry told the House of Commons that a new logo for February's Winter Games "bears a striking resemblance" to that of the governing party.

Gary Lunn, the minister for amateur sport, responded that the federal government was "not involved in any way, shape or form in the design of any of the Olympic clothing."

(More)


FURTHER UPDATE:

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14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sweet jeebus. Now I can't even enjoy the Olympics.

Anonymous said...

I know that Bay must be selling those (because you posted it). But those aren't the seals that are the official team uniforms. It's really not even close.

If you go to CTV you can see some good photos, including close-ups of the logs. There much better - and less partisan ;). Very maple leafy.

Other news sites are reporting them, but most don't have any decent pics up yet.

Thank goodness, was my reaction. I felt ill when I saw your post.

Anonymous said...

Ah, I just found one. Yes, you're right on the hockey uniforms so the "C" is there. But it's not everywhere.

Yes, I know, hockey Canada yeah yeah ;). But at least it's not plastered on every stitch of clothing of every athlete. So I'm still relieved ;)

Jeff said...

Joseph, there's a range of clothing and while the ones with this logo weren't featured prominently in the press that I've seen, they are prominent in the clothing on sale in the Bay's Olympic web store:

http://store.hbc.com/clothing/catapparel-p1.html

Patrick Ross said...

Holy shit. I thought you had to be joking.

The National Post actually published this? As opposed to laughing in your face?

So HBC is a Conservative party front -- is that really what we're to take away from this?

Jeff said...

Patrick,

The HBC doesn't design the logos, but you're free to take whatever you want from it. I for one found the similarity highly amusing, to say the least, but if you want to see a conspiracy theory, I won't stop you...

Patrick Ross said...

Jeff, you can't suggest that all of this has something to do with "Harper's Master Plan" (or some likewise tripe), then back away from it that easily.

Maybe you'd actually like to educate yourself about the designs:

"Canadian graphics. Influential work of many great Canadian graphic designers from the modernist era in the ‘60s and ‘70s inspired the design team to revisit a classic clean design aesthetic to the collection."

Jeff said...

Actually Patrick, I think it's a conspiracy by the Canadian Olympic Committee to capitalize on the amazing popularity of the Conservative Party by copying your logo. You really should sue for copyright infringement.

Barcs said...

http://www.drawscene.com/timlogo1.png

someone taking the idea and running with it

lmao :)

Barcs said...

and a quick warning to the liberals about contesting government.....


The Tories obviously control the air force, and are probably ready to enforce their grip on power using the military... lmao


RCAF logo:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/65/Rcaf_roundel_old_wht.png

Barcs said...

Air Canada...
http://www.aircanada.com/

Charcoal and cedar for barbecues....
http://www.cedargrilling.com/images/logos/logo-mapleleaf.gif

Full control over the bugs of canada!!!
http://www.canacoll.org/JAM2008/html/logo.html

Even he old CFL logo isn't that different.
http://www.sportslogos.net/images/logos/8/2573/full/a9soechc7f6e834z5sxh28grj.gif

Its a vast conspiracy it is...

!!!!!! I can't believe it, the evil Conservatives even changed THE BACK OF THE PENNY to look like their logo!!!!!! Is there no decency left in Canada?? Won't someone please think of the children??

LMAO

Patrick Ross said...

I have no influence over what the Conservative party does.

But sue the COC? I think I get it now -- you really are joking.

Aside from the Hedy Fry video, I say well played.

Burton, Formerly Kingston said...

LMAO, and you say Conservatives are suffering from some sort of paranoid defect. That is really reaching Jeff, and Hedy Fry actually insinuating that the CPC is involved is only making the LPC look weak and totally silly. Someone get a grip on the LPC. It's becoming embarrassing. P.S. Here is a leak for you, at the the next CPC annual meeting the second item on the agenda is we will be going over for a look at all the items the big bad right hand side of the political spectrum collected at Roswell.

Jeff said...

I would have advised Hedy to play it light, not serious. But Dr. Fry is a firecracker.