Canada’s final flag bearer to be Joannie Rochette – Was it switched from Charles Hamelin because CTV-Rogers consortium wanted better TV and ratings?
February 28, 2010 by Richard Budman ·
photo: Toronto Star/Steve Russell via @TOstarphoto
(HoundsTV – Vancouver) It seems a little flag bearer controversy has emerged from an otherwise celebratory Canadian Olympic Committee (COC)
It has now been revealed that Joannie Rochette will carry the Canadian flag for tonight’s Closing Gala ceremonies at the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. Rochette has been considered a story of these games by winning bronze in figure skating after her mother tragically passed away.
But earlier today word leaked that short-track speedskater Charles Hamelin – who won double Gold in Vancouver was going to carry the closing night flag for Canada?
So why the switcheroo?
According to the COC, Hamelin was never going to be the flag bearer and it was always going to be Rochette.
But the Toronto Star reported that Hamelin did indeed receive word early today he was going to carry the flag. He was even celebrating. That was even confirmed by other Canadian medalists and government sources.
I was just talking to a high ranking Canadian television broadcast executive and actually put the question to him. We both had expressed surprise at hearing that Hamelin was going to carry the flag as it seemed the momentum for the final flag bearer was with Rochette.
In the words of my well-informed friend;
“I would bet CTV-Rogers had something to do with the COC changing to Joannie. They know the perfect television story is with Joannie. It’s what Canada wants. They want Rochette carrying that flag for the ratings.”
You might also enjoy seeing:
Comments
One Response to “Canada’s final flag bearer to be Joannie Rochette – Was it switched from Charles Hamelin because CTV-Rogers consortium wanted better TV and ratings?”Trackbacks
Check out what others are saying about this post...[...] (UPDATE: This story has this paragraph: “A short-track team spokesman said later that the team was either sick of being asked about the flag-bearer job or had simply started to believe rumours that had been circulating.” – Not really an explanation. Meanwhile, conspiracy theories are spreading.) [...]