Jessie Vetter can't wear U.S. Constitution goalie mask to Sochi, IOC rules

Jan. 16 (UPI) -- The International Olympic Committee has decided that U.S. goalie Jessie Vetter can't wear a custom mask featuring a quote from the U.S. Constitution to next month's Winter Games, because the Olympic charter prohibits any form of "publicity or propaganda" on athletes' clothing or equipment.

Graphics artist Ron Slater had designed the mask, which also happened to have been covered in gold leafing, that bore words from the Preamble to the Constitution.

U.S. goaltender @Vetter31 has real gold on her new 2014 Sochi Olympics mask by @MaskPaint: http://t.co/RWIuZc1LZw pic.twitter.com/is5BFloWWk

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— InGoal Magazine (@InGoalMedia) January 6, 2014

“No writings of any kind to promote the country is allowed,” he said. “A sort of ‘our country is better than your country” kind of thing that the IOC frowns upon. Her name had to come off because they see it as self promotion. They wanted everything to be team based. … Our original idea was ‘land of the free, home of the brave,’ and that would have had to have been removed as well.”

Slater adapted the mask to fit within the IOC's regulations. Here's the new version:

Incase you missed it earlier. The @Vetter31 @VaughnHockey custom mask take two @usahockey #USWNT #Sochi #Olympics pic.twitter.com/2TH7ogKxwb

— Pros Choice (@Progoalie) January 15, 2014

[Sports Illustrated, InGoal]