The first major drama of the 2026 Winter Olympics has arrived ahead of the opening ceremony, and Supporters are on the scene.
Spanish broadcaster Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté said on Tuesday he had received last-minute permission from Universal to use the music of the Minions in his short program after copyright concerns briefly disrupted his Olympic program. While the situation is still ongoing, and not all of the music has been revealed yet, suffice it to say officially: The Minions are headed to the Olympics.
Why was Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté’s Minions music banned in the first place?
A few days earlier, Sabaté, 26, revealed on Instagram that he was no longer allowed to skate to the music in his Minions short program at the Milan-Cortina Games. The circuit includes many songs and soundtracks from the Minions franchise: It starts with the Universal theme sung by the Minions, which includes Pharrell Williams’ “Freedom” from the Despicable Me 3and ends with the bass-heavy “Papaya (Vaya Papayas),” which features Supporters singing about bananas and papayas in a low-tongue.
Sabaté worked on the program throughout the season, and had submitted it for approval through the International Skating Union’s ClicknClear program in August.
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Apart from this, the skater said that he was informed about this matter late last week, which left him busy thinking about re-routing his routine on the eve of his Olympic debut.
“Finding this last Friday, right next to the biggest competition of my life, was incredibly disappointing,” Sabate wrote. “However, I will face this challenge head on and do my best to do better in this situation.”
How did it happen? Friends music has been canceled from the olympics?
The decision was reversed after people gathered online, asking why the music was banned near the Games and urging the rights holder to intervene. (People need their fans — and, frankly, how do rules and regulations fit into the mystery?) On Tuesday, Sabate confirmed via his Instagram Story that Universal had given him permission to use the song for what he described as “this one special event.”
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“A huge THANK YOU to everyone who reposted, shared, and supported,” Sabate wrote. “Because of you, Universal Studios has reconsidered and officially granted the rights.”
Figure skating analyst Jackie Wong, reporting on the Milan-Cortina Games, noted that although only two of the four cuts in Sabate’s program have been cleared so far, the most difficult hurdle has been resolved. “The universal one was originally the trickiest of all,” he wrote in X, “and it is the one they get special permission for.”
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As for Sabate, he is relieved that the essence of the technique has been preserved. “So excited to see fans hitting the Olympic ice become real again!!” he wrote on IG. “I’ll keep you posted.”
How did fans influence Universal’s decision to license music?
Simply put, the Internet did what it does best and bullied Universal into withdrawing. Figure skating fans and thrill seekers flooded social media with posts and requests for Sabate to get his Minions music.
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What Minions song is Sabate skating to?
There are many, actually. It starts with the Universal theme sung by the Minions, which should sound familiar to anyone who has seen a Minions movie. The show also features “Freedom” by Pharrell Williams Despicable Me 3 and ends with “Papaya (Vaya Papayas)” from Juan Alcaraz and The Minions — who share artist, writing, arrangement, production, and engineering credits on the song, according to EW.
Why did Sabate choose Minions music for his Olympic program?
Sabaté has performed songs from the Minions animated film franchise throughout the season, performing his short routine in a yellow and blue costume inspired by the characters. He previously said that the practice was designed to bring the fun and style of playing on the ice while still meeting all the necessary technical aspects.
“This season I competed with my Minions short program to bring joy and style to the ice,” Sabaté wrote earlier this week on Instagram, adding that the program was intended to show “that skating like an Olympic skater can be fun.”
When will Sabate compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics?
As the Milan-Cortina Winter Games open on Friday, February 6, Spain’s six-time champion will make his 2026 Winter Olympics debut alongside the Minions during the men’s figure skating competition on Feb. 10.
