Petition Aims To Stop CrossFit Games From Awarding Glock Pistols To Winners
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.COM) — With the Reebok CrossFit Games kicking off Tuesday in Carson, many CrossFit athletes -- and even the event's title sponsor -- expressed displeasure with the event's decision to award winners with a Glock handgun.
The games, held at Carson's StubHub Center challenge top athletes in a variety of challenging exercises. But the competition has been somewhat overshadowed by the gun controversy, as a spate of recent police shootings has thrust the issue to the forefront of public discourse.
A petition circulating online asking for the award to be rescinded had gathered more than 21,000 signatures as of Wednesday evening.
"Irrespective of anyone's right to bear arms in the US, branding the value of our community to be about awarding weapons as gifts and rewards is not what our community stands for," the petition said.
The controversy kicked off with a promotional video posted to CrossFit Games' Facebook page last week.
"The top male athlete, the top female athlete, and every member of the winning team will receive a Glock pistol," Dave Castro, Director of the CrossFit Games, said in the video description.
Displeasure has even come from title sponsor Reebok, which has long been allied with the CrossFit Games.
"As the title sponsor of the Games, we unfortunately do not have input regarding other partners or promotions," Reebok told USA Today Sports in a statement. "While we understand CrossFit's foundations are tied to military and first responders, we do not agree with this decision, particularly in light of current events in the United States."
