Yesterday, members of the Track and Field Athletes Association competing in London launched the #WeDemandChange #Rule40 campaign to draw attention to Rule 40 (link provided below). This rule severely limits athletes’ rights to market themselves during the Olympic Games. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) continues to grow the scope of this rule, limiting all athlete interactions with outside companies to official Olympic Partners . We feel this needs to change.
While we consider representing our country at the Olympics the highest honor, every day we face the reality that achieving that dream requires financial support. This support requires that we be able to effectively market ourselves and acquire sponsorship, a process that is part of an ongoing journey, 365 days a year, every single year.
Our hope is that our unified voice is heard by not just the IOC and USOC, but also by the fans and our fellow athletes in other Olympic sports. We want to work towards a system that ensures long-term success of the Olympic Games, for which the ability of athletes to dedicate their lives to their sport is imperative.
So please join #WeDemandChange and support your US Olympic Track and Field Team.
Rule 40 - http://www.usatf.org/events/2012/OlympicTrials-TF/athleteInfo/Rule40_Pamphlet_4.pdf
photo credit: Cayusa
About Tim Huntley
I am so with the athletes on this one. Why the need to impose limits on them. By keeping them down it keep the sport as a whole in the term of $$$. More exposure more $$$. They NEED the support outside of family, friends and fans. This is what they do for a living.
The IOC needs to come to terms that we are in the year 2012 not 1912! In order for the Olympic sports to grow and have the athletes that represent each country maintain their level of excellence, they need financial support.
Trying to understand. Basically you want the same rights to marketing as the IOC?