Ottawa - Canadian parliamentarians want their Olympic team to wear seal skin on their uniforms at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games in protest of a European Union import ban on seal products. Local news reports said on Thursday that an according - non-binding - motion from the Bloc Quebocois was supported by all parteies and that the February 12-28 Games are to promote seal products.
Opposing seal hunting carried out by Canada and ther countries, the EU on Tuesday decided on an import ban for all seal products.
"The government should take advantage of the opportunity provided by the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games to promote seal products, particularly by studying the possibility of using these products in the making of the Canadian Olympic clothing," said the motion.
However, Canadian Olympic Committee president Mike Chambers was quoted as saying that seal products on the uniforms would politicize the Games.
"It's our intent for our athletes to remain free of the politics that arises in and around the Olympic Games. The seal issue, while important, is an issue that has become politicized," he said.
The Vancouver organizing committee did not comment because the nation's Olympic Committee alone is responsible for the uniforms.
