Spanish Figure Skater Wins Approval for Olympic Minions Performance
Spanish figure skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate has secured necessary approvals to perform at the upcoming Olympic Games in Milan. Sabate will showcase a short program featuring a medley from the beloved animated film series, Minions, as part of the men’s competition.
Approval Process for Minions Performance
On Friday, Sabate received the final green light for his artistic performance, which uses a mixture of four music pieces from the Minions franchise. Earlier, he believed he had the requisite approvals through the ClicknClear licensing system but encountered challenges when Universal Studios requested additional information concerning his costume and music choices.
Music Licensing and Support
Ultimately, Sabate obtained permissions for three of the four tracks. This included a collaborative effort where he reached directly out to a fellow Spaniard artist. The last piece, “Freedom” by Pharrell Williams, was cleared just hours before the team event opened.
- Key Dates:
- Final approval received on Friday.
- Men’s competition begins on Tuesday night.
- Music Details:
- Combination of four tracks from Minions.
- Included artist collaborations for rights clearance.
In a social media announcement, he expressed gratitude for the support he received. “I’m so happy to announce that we’ve secured the licenses for all four songs, and I’ll be able to skate the Minions at the Olympic Games,” wrote Sabate.
Challenges in Figure Skating Copyright
The world of figure skating faces ongoing challenges regarding music licensing. Following a change in rules in 2014, skaters began using contemporary music in competitions. However, this has resulted in conflicts with artists desiring proper authorization for their work.
Similarly, Belgian skater Loena Hendrickx experienced difficulties surrounding her choice of music for the Olympics. Initially skating to “Ashes” by Celine Dion, a last-minute decision was made to switch to “I Surrender” due to copyright concerns. This track is part of ClicknClear’s licensed collection.
Looking Ahead to the Olympics
Although Sabate is not viewed as a likely medal contender, finishing 20th at last year’s World Championships, he is optimistic about his performance. “Right now, I just want to give my all on the ice and perform a program worthy of the love I’ve received from around the world,” he stated.
With the timely resolution of his music licensing issues, Sabate is prepared to bring the joy of the Minions to the Olympic stage this Tuesday night in Milan.
