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German athletes earn more advertising rights during Games

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German athletes and their sponsors will have more possibilities to advertise during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics following an easing of restrictions, the German Cartel Office said on Wednesday.

Athletes competing at the Olympic Games have been severely restricted in commercial advertising and promotion activities in the weeks running up to the Olympics as well as during the Games.

The International Olympic Committee charter rule 40 states that “except as permitted by the IOC Executive Board, no competitor, coach, trainer or official who participates in the Olympic Games may allow his person, name, picture or sports performances to be used for advertising purposes during the Olympic Games.”

This was long seen as major problem for the vast majority of athletes who depend heavily on their visibility during the Olympics every four years to generate sponsorship and advertising revenues.

“We ensure that the advertising opportunities of German athletes and their sponsors during the Olympic Games, which the DOSB (German Olympic Sports Confederation) and IOC significantly restricted in the past, are extended,” Andreas Mundt, President of the Cartel Office, said in a statement following the completion of administrative proceedings that started in 2017.

He said sports organisations pursuing economic activities were also subject to competition law.

“While athletes are the key figures of Olympic Games, they cannot benefit directly from the IOC’s high advertising revenue generated with official Olympic sponsors. However, as the games mark the height of their sporting careers, self-marketing during the games plays a very important role.”

“Our decision grants German athletes more leeway when it comes to marketing themselves during the Olympic Games, for example as far as the use of certain “Olympic” terms or their pictures taken in sports events, or social media activities are concerned.”

Among the changes are that advertising activities planned for during the Olympics no longer need to be cleared by the DOSB beforehand.

They can also include some terms such as “medal, gold, silver, bronze, winter or summer games.”

It is now also permitted to use certain photographs taken during the Olympic Games, while athletes are allowed to use social media more freely during the Olympic Games.

These changes apply only for German athletes.

The IOC, whose Rule 40 has been aimed at protecting the rights of its own Olympic sponsors, had already somewhat eased restrictions at the 2018 Pyeongchang winter Olympics after the Cartel Office had launched its administrative proceedings for “suspected abuse of a dominant position against the DOSB and the IOC.”

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