Spanish figure skater may be allowed to skate Minions program at Olympics

Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté said Universal has agreed to let him use Minions music for the Milan‑Cortina Olympics and he is working to clear the remaining rights; he had previously been told the medley could not be used because of copyright issues.

Spanish figure skater Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté said he may be able to skate his Minions‑themed program at the Milan‑Cortina Olympics after Universal agreed to allow use of the franchise's music for the "special occasion." He posted the update on Instagram and said he is working to clear the remaining rights for the other two pieces in his medley. He had been told about a week before the opening ceremony that the medley could not be used at the Games because of copyright issues. Guarino Sabaté is a six‑time Spanish national champion who planned to make his Olympic debut with the Minions short program on Feb. 10. What we know: - Universal is reported to have agreed to permit the use of Minions music for the Olympics, according to the skater's Instagram update. - Guarino Sabaté said there are still two other pieces in his program that need clearance and that those matters are close to being resolved. - He had submitted his music through the International Skating Union's recommended rights clearance system in August and was later told the medley could not be used because of copyright. - The story highlights that NBCUniversal holds U.S. media rights to the Olympics and that contemporary music requires rights clearance by skaters. - Fellow skaters Amber Glenn and Ilia Malinin commented that athletes often try to clear permissions but ultimately depend on rights holders. Summary: If the remaining permissions are finalized, Guarino Sabaté's Minions medley could appear in his Olympic short program. He and his team are working to resolve the remaining clearance issues; the final outcome is still pending.