A social media video by Italy's Democratic Party comparing curling to voting in a referendum has angered athletes and officials, leading to a call for its removal.
A recent social media campaign by Italy's Democratic Party (PD) used footage of an Olympic curling match as a metaphor for participating in the upcoming referendum scheduled for March. This controversial representation has drawn sharp criticism from the Italian sports community. The videos aimed at encouraging voter turnout have not only baffled audiences but have also sparked outrage from the National Olympic Committee (CONI) and various athletes, particularly Amos Mosaner, who played a pivotal role in the clip without prior consent.
CONI President Luciano Bonofiglio expressed astonishment at how a sport could be exploited in such a manner, criticizing the inappropriate connotation it brings to both the sport and the athletes involved. Amos Mosaner, a bronze medalist in curling, has publicly stated that he was unaware of his performance being linked with any political agenda. Mosaner has emphasized that he did not give permission for the use of his images in the video and demanded its removal from the PD's social media platforms.
The PD’s decision to use sports imagery in a political context raises significant questions about ethics in political campaigning and the role of sports in political narratives. Athletes often strive to maintain their apolitical stance, making this incident both a potential misstep for the PD and an example highlighting the need for clear boundaries between sports and politics. The video has since been taken down, indicating that the backlash from the public and sports authorities had a notable impact on the party's messaging strategy.
