As a Brit, who was thinking of trying to qualify for Vegas next year, it seems a bit off. Makes me question whether they really want non-US athletes to race.

I agree.[/b]


If you´re an American and went to a World Champs in a foreign country, would you feel comfortable and at ease with the opposite scenario?

So, if for instance the Mormon Church wanted to spend a few million bucks to be the title sponsor, would that be OK? What about some creationist movement with a lot of dough? Or some extreme conservative right wing lobby group that wanted to state an anti-gay or anti-gender equal society? Still OK
What about if the KKK raised a shitload of cash? I´m sure they also want to "recruit"...

Extreme exemples, yes, but where would the WTC draw the line for something being TOO political, to religious, to polarizing?
If it´s just about the money, it´s just a matter who would pay the most.

And I get the point why the Marines want to sponsor this! But the question remains unanswered if that´s appropriate in a so-called World Champs? What´s next year? Letting the CIA sponsor the event? I´m sure they could use some good press too...

If you´re an American and went to a World Champs in a foreign country, would you feel comfortable and at ease with the opposite scenario?

It's a freakin' race. Who gives a shit?

You forgot the part that you are paying the sponsor with your taxes, so it's all coming back to you.

Brand recognition is very difficult to quantify. I think people are whining because this is our government dumping money that they don't have.

....

It is amusing to me how the military knows better than the private sector PR firms about brand recognition.

We are broke. This is the wrong mentality, it's already budgeted... How about not spending it period? This the reason we are in trouble, rampant spending.