Jessie Vetter, USA Women's Goalie, Must Remove U.S. Constitution From Helmet for Olympics
A member of the United States women's hockey team will not be able to wear a custom helmet that contains words from the U.S. Constitution.
Goalie Jessie Vetter will be between the pipes during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, but her mask will be missing something.
The governing body of the Olympics, the International Olympic Committee, says due to standing regulations, the player must remove wording that states "We the People" that was placed on the back of the helmet.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Ron Slater, who worked with Vetter to design the goalie mask stated that the IOC feels as if the wording is somehow promoting America over other nations during a sporting event in which athletes are thought equal, no matter the country of origin.
"It ruffles the wrong feathers, I guess," Slater told Fox News.
The designer added that while the wording had to be removed other iconic American symbols were able to remain on the helmet such as the Statue of Liberty, a bald eagle and a "USA" shield.
Slater also said that it was Vetter's idea to add the ode to the nation's founding document.
"How about 'We the People'?" Slater remembers Vetter suggesting. "It's only three words. How much damage could they do?"
The communications director for USA Hockey, Rob Koch, insisted that the controversy is based on technical regulations and has not been a distraction for the team.
"It is our understanding that this is not an issue about the patriotic nature of the image depicting the U.S Constitution," Koch said in a statement. "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 also had to remove a graphic of the Olympic rings and a University of Wisconsin Badgers logo.
