The controversy between the Mexican artistic swimming team and the National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport (Conade) It is not limited to the sports field. Various brands, including Avon, tupperware, Telmex and Telcelhave shown their solidarity with the swimmers, who seek to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The Mexican swimming team that supported Carlos Slim, today they hold three gold medals and one bronze from the World Cup in Egypt. However, the road has not been easy and obstacles continue to appear, while various firms and personalities express their support for the synchronized swimming teams.
What happens between the Mexican swimmers, Ana Gabriela Guevara and the Conade?
In early April, the athletes denounced the lack of financial support from Conade. At the same time, they announced that they were raising funds by selling swimsuits. This unleashed an intense controversy on the part of public opinion, as well as the attention of several firms and potential sponsors.
On May 18, the head of the Conade, Ana Gabriela Guevara, spoke publicly about the conflict. However, his statements have been described as “offensive”, “humiliating” and “in bad taste”.
The former sprinter and Olympic medalist said she doesn’t care what athletes do to get funding.
“For me, let them sell underwear, bathing suits, Avon or Tupperware,” Guevara said in statements collected by The universal.
The head of Conade added that the members of the synchronized swimming team are also “debtors” and should find a way to repay the support received.
“Since the administration began to date, there have been seven million pesos in scholarships, incentives, coaches. They have been given 40 million pesos. They have all the support such as eating, sleeping, living and receiving care at the CNAR”, the official stated. In addition, she said that “it is blackmail to say that they are going to sell their medals, they are lying,” according to the same media outlet.
The Mexican athletes invited Tupperware and Avon to join their efforts
Given this, Jessica Sobrino, a member of the team, responded to various media that for her it is a “pride” to sell whatever it takes to get resources.
“The truth is not offensive, if necessary we will sell other things, everything adds up. If Avon and Tupperware want to join our cause, we will be very happy”, commented the athlete. As for the money, she said that “we don’t know if the 40 million refers to our entire sports career. I have been living there (in the CNAR) since I was 12 years old, so surely a significant expense has been made on me, for example”.
“I have six gold medals in the Central American Games, two silver medals in the Pan American Games and other competitions, I consider myself a good investment,” Jessica stated.
And the brands responded: Avon and Tupperware showed their solidarity
Taking advantage of the fact that they were mentioned in the discussion, international firms Avon and tupperware They came out in defense of the athletes.
That same day, hours after the statements by the former Olympic athlete, Avon He published a message on his social networks without a specific recipient.
“We are proud of everything we have achieved together with so many women entrepreneurs in Mexico. #LookAgain”, reads the tweet. The publication includes an image with the caption “we are all champions” and a gold medal.
The next day, the plastic packaging giant, tupperwarealso expressed his desire to collaborate with the Mexican artistic swimming team.
“We want to hear from you, our doors are open, let’s find ways to work together and help more #incredibleMexicans like you achieve their dreams,” the firm wrote, tagging swimmers Glenda Inzunza, Pamela Toscano, and Jessica Sobrino.
Since neither brand committed to any kind of specific help, both posts abounded with comments from netizens asking them to sponsor the athletes.
The artistic swimming team has the support of several brands and Carlos Slim
The swimsuits sold by the Mexican swimming team, headed by Nuria Diosdado, were safeti. The sports clothing and accessories brand created 2 exclusive swimsuit models for the fundraiser. These have a cost of 1,000 Mexican pesos for men and 1,250 pesos for women.
One of the first to respond to the call was the businessman Arturo Elias Ayubfollowed by his father-in-law, the billionaire Carlos Slim.
Nuria and the shark from Shark Tank Mexico shared in a Twitter message that they met and were “ready to jump in the water with you, the highest ranked sports team in this country.” The businessman’s action was applauded on social networks.
Right away, Slim, the richest man in Mexico and Latin America, received the entire artistic swimming team and assured that he would give them the impetus to achieve their goals.
On May 4, from Nuria Diosdado’s account, the team thanked the Telmex Telcel Foundation for its sponsorship. They revealed that the flights, lodging and food of the 14 people who traveled to the competition were sponsored by the Slim association managed by Ayub.
Other sponsoring firms appear in the message, including Adidas, Arena, Oysho and Urban Decay, as the situation of the group of athletes has generated a lot of empathy. In addition, it is a good opportunity for companies to demonstrate their social commitment and to sport.
Editorial Team The editorial team of EMPRENDEDOR.com, which for more than 27 years has worked to promote entrepreneurship.