Press Release
Minnesota Vikings alumnus Matt Blair, celebrity captain of the International Tug of War: Pulling for Peace Team USA, yesterday issued a rules violation challenge to Team Canada for its celebrity team selection.
Blair called upon the two countries’ mayors Shawn Mason of International Falls and Roy Avis of Fort Frances to convene as the formal arbiters of all rules violations, and hear his complaint.
“Where are the sisters?” Blair asked. “Fort Frances and International Falls are ‘sister cities’ and yet Celebrity Team Canada has only one female listed on its roster. Where are the sisters?”
Mason, when asked to comment on the dispute, noted her belief that Blair has a valid point.
“Celebrity Team USA has five females listed so when I saw Celebrity Team Canada’s list, I was very disappointed to see just a solitary female athlete on its roster,” she noted.
“I would hope Mayor Avis and I might meet shortly to consider disqualifying Celebrity Team Canada in the interest of equality between men and women around the world,” added Mason.
Canada and the United States share the longest undefended border in the world. International Peaceful Borders Day is an effort to promote peace throughout the world by celebrating the peaceful border enjoyed between the United States and Canada.
Obviously, all citizens in the world are stakeholders in the cause for peace. However, the International Tug of War’s innovators believe those living along the world’s international borders have day-to-day opportunities to promote the importance of peaceful borders.
Canada and the United States are also each the other’s largest trading partners. As Muhtar Kent, chairman and CEO of the Coca-Cola Company, said last year in Washington, D.C., “When trade crosses borders, armies typically don’t.” No armies have crossed this U.S./Canadian border for 196 years.
In celebration and in the name of peace, the tug of war is a very unique event that can’t happen just anywhere. Two tug of wars will be implemented—a celebrity pull and the official community pull where national pride and a traveling trophy are at stake.
At 11 a.m. July 2, a 1,200-foot rope will be stretched across the Rainy River which divides these two countries.
The competition is fun and facetious while at the same time official, refereed by officials from each side of the border.
The event, as well as community lunches, are expected to draw crowds on both sides.
This will be the fourth International Tug of War event. Canada took the honors in the first two competition and America won last year.
The event is the brainchild of the mayors from both communities.
More information on the International Tug of War is available at www.Internationaltugofwar.com.
