However, as a thank you to that Norwegian coach, Canada sent him 5 tons of Maple Syrup. I realize the thought and sentiment behind this gesture, but lets think about this for a second. First of all, he could share that syrup with his entire country and it would probably still be way too much syrup. Secondly, I can't even begin to contemplate how much money that would cost, both for that ridiculous amount of syrup, as well as shipping it (5 tons!?!) across the Atlantic.
So, thinking about the situation from a slightly more logical, maybe even intellectual point of view, Canada could have sent him one bottle of maple syrup, and a thank you card, and we would have achieved the same thing. Then, with all of that money we saved by not sending 5 tons of syrup, we could have, I don't know, maybe supported some of our athletes a bit? Who are tremendously underfunded in the first place!!!
So there's my rant for the day, hope you enjoyed it!
Cheers :)
I was amused by your rant, but here is what i thingk
ReplyDeleteHow much do you think 5 tons of maple syrup costs ? Bulk prices in 2009 are about 3$ a pound, so 5 tons would be 30,000$. Add another $2500 for Shipping. and we are not talking millions, now are we ? It's quite possible the whole costs was defrayed by the skier or her sponsors.
and 5 tons of maple syrup is not as much as you think.... its about 10,000 540ML cans.. hardly enough to feed a country,
Anyway... enjoy the Olympics.. it was a nice commercial
Actually, it didn't cost us almost anything as a country and the idea started simply and then spread like wildfire - wasn't originally intended to be that big. Michael Page, a montrealer came up with the idea.
ReplyDeleteThen Page rallied support from his colleagues at the Independent Communications Dealers Association of Canada, which represents 100 Espace Bell and Bell World vendors in Quebec and Ontario.
The idea spread like syrup to all 300 Bell outlets across Canada, which ran a five-day drive. Maple syrup producers Capilano-Labonte of Victoriaville provided cans of syrup at cost, which sold at Bell outlets for $2.50 each.
When Nehru Edwards, owner of Montreal-based MSN Transport, heard about the drive on a radio program, he called organizers and offered his help.
MSN Transport provided free local shipping. Simard Transport, CP Ships and Gillship Navigation handled overseas shipping. Team Transportation in Denmark kicked in a truck to take the syrup to its final destination in Norway.
CM International covered insurance for the precious cargo. The Port of Montreal and Foreign Affairs Canada helped Project Maple Syrup navigate a labyrinth of red tape to export the gift.
Import and export duties in both countries were also waved. So in reality as a country we spent very little, the only cost came from the $2.50 each person who bought some maple syrup spent.
A small price to pay for the silver medal they gave us - costing them their own.
P.S - The maple syrup was divided between the coach and all the members of their olympics comittee and teams.
Oh, I almost forgot ... the rest of the cans were eventually donated to the Norwegian Cancer Society, and were distributed to people around Norway during a tour along the coast on Hurtigruten, Norway’s scenic coastal voyage.
ReplyDeleteThus not only did it not really cost, but it helped others!