The sport lover inside me manager to ignore the cynical part that knows the Olympics is all about commercial sponsorship but the IOC's 'Rule 40' is making that rather difficult right now with athletes and their sponsors banned from using any words to do with the Olympics on social media.
I get it, the Olympics has it's own commercial partners that it needs to keep sweet and they want to avoid 'guerilla marketing' taking over The Games but come on guys there's only so far can you take it.
From yesterday to August 24th, just after the Olympics have finished, athlete's sponsors, those not involved with the Olympics, and the athletes have avoid posting about pretty much anything to do with the games. The harshest punishment could be seeing our medals taken away, tweeting not drugs are apparently more likely to lose you a medal!
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Okay not quite but that is a possible punishment, although a slap on the wrist is more likely. Here's the ridiculous list of phrases that has to be avoided:
- 2016
- Rio/Rio de Janeiro
- Gold
- Silver
- Bronze
- Medal
- Effort
- Performance
- Challenge
- Summer
- Games
- Sponsors
- Victory
- Olympian
While "Olympic listed terms or expressions" include:
- Olympic
- Olympics
- Olympic Games
- Olympiad
- Olympiads
- The Olympic motto "Citius - Altius - Fortius" (which is Latin for "Faster, Higher, Stronger) and any translation of it.
British discus thrower Jade Lally pointed out just how ridiculous the rule is with her early tweet of the Olympics contender:
So companies be careful what you say in your tweets, it could cost your athlete a gold medal.
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Now breathe Ryan, it's all about the sport...
(Via BBC Sport)
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