Copyright regulation practically acquired in the best way of caprice, as a Spanish determine skater’s deliberate routine for the 2026 Olympics was in jeopardy. Why? The music his routine makes use of couldn’t be cleared for the occasion. The track in query? “Papaya” by the Minions.
Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté, a 26-year-old ice skater who has received many a gold medal throughout his profession, has been performing a routine set to the Minions track all through the aggressive season main as much as the Winter Olympic Video games, that are set to start on Friday, February 6, in Italy. Nevertheless, in an Instagram story posted yesterday, Guarino Sabaté revealed that he wouldn’t have the ability to do that routine, which has him wearing blue overalls and a vivid yellow shirt, as a result of Common Photos refused to clear the track for the televised occasion.
“This season I competed with my Minions short program to bring joy and a playful style to the ice while still meeting every required element to show that skating as a male Olympic figure skater can be fun,” Guarino Sabaté wrote. “I followed all required procedures and submitted my music through the ISU ClicknClear system back in August, and I competed with this program throughout the entire season. Unfortunately, just days before the Olympic inauguration, I was informed that I am no longer permitted to use this program due to copyright clearance issues.
“Finding this out last Friday, so close to the biggest competition of my life, was incredibly disappointing. Nevertheless, I will face this challenge head-on and do everything I can to make the best of the situation.”
A music rights clearance concern means we are going to all be robbed of seeing this on the Olympics:
pic.twitter.com/tgBhpCG13i https://t.co/Hn09Kqmphq— Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) February 2, 2026
You possibly can see a brief clip from the routine above, and whereas, sure, there’s some spectacular figure-skating athleticism on show right here, there are additionally some foolish dance strikes within the combine as properly. It could have been a disgrace if an organization as huge as Common acquired in the best way of Guarino Sabaté doing this on one of many world’s largest phases. Fortunately, it looks as if he’ll have the ability to carry out the brief program on the occasion after an outpouring of public help acquired the corporate to rethink.
“Huge THANK YOU to everyone who reposted, shared, and supported,” Guarino Sabaté wrote in a follow-up story. “Because of you, Universal studios reconsidered and officially granted the rights for this one special occasion. I’m so happy to see that the minions hitting Olympic ice is becoming real again!!”
Bullying works, I suppose. By no means thought I’d be hooting and hollering for a chunk of obnoxious Minions music to look on the Olympics, however I hate to see huge enterprise maintaining a whimsical king down.
