Athletes knew contract obligations, says NZOC

New Zealand Olympic Committee boss Barry Maister is adamant the contractual dispute with leading athletes will be resolved before March's Commonwealth Games.

But he insisted the NZOC won't budge from its position of protecting its sponsors before, during and after the Games when they take precedence over rival individual sponsors.

Maister, secretary-general of the NZOC, said the problems involving triathletes Hamish Carter and Bevan Docherty - and an anticipated issue with Olympic cycling champion Sarah Ulmer once cycling's nominations are in for Melbourne - are nothing new.

The difference this time is the athletes are high profile and waters are being muddied by third parties with a vested interest.

"This is not foreign territory for us. We've had a few others to work through, and also at other Games, and I'm absolutely comfortable we'll work through this," he said.

"The ball is in their court. We've got a contract for all athletes, every one else has signed it."

The athletes commission, which includes Carter and Ulmer, knew the contents of the contract several months ago. On occasions in the past, they have suggested changes. This time, the clause relating to sponsors was returned untouched to the NZOC.

"The contract has not changed substantially for some time, certainly not in the time Sarah and Hamish have been involved in the Games," Maister said.

"Every time [Games] we run the contract past the athletes commission and say, 'Is there anything you can't live with?' They have been party to the contract and had a chance to influence it."

Yesterday, Martin Gillman, chief executive of media placement agency Total Media - whose clients include Carter's major sponsor Hyundai - accused the NZOC of being "bullies".

One of the NZOC's main sponsors is Holden but Gillmann said the NZOC "has no right to tell us what we can and can't do. What they're doing is shocking and they're wrecking our own athletes' chances of success."

Maister wouldn't buy into a tit for tat with Gillmann but did say his remarks were "clearly based on ignorance. Clearly he doesn't understand how we function and clearly doesn't understand the extensive steps we go to look after athletes".

"We have reached accommodations over the years, agreements and clarifications [with a range of sports and individuals] and done it so far without any need for lawyers or major fuss and bother.

"It's hard enough to get sponsors and when we do get them, my God we're going to protect them," Maister said.

"If we don't, we might as well pack our bags and disappear into the night.

"They are the ones who allow us to have a totally free trip, experience and clothing for our athletes."

Maister, a member of the gold medal-winning Olympic hockey team at Montreal in 1976, wondered if the one-contract-fits-all policy might need to change in the future, given the increasing number of athletes who earn their living from sport.

But he is also concerned that athletes must take care when signing individual contracts to point out to potential sponsors there is a six-week window within a four-year Games cycle when their rights may be overridden by NZOC sponsors.

"It's only a small period and for the rest of it, go for it, do what you want," Maister said.

The Games begin on March 15.