OLYMPICS-BRAZIL/IOC BRIEFING (O) IOC Executive Board meets in Rio, could change advertising rules for athletes

Record ID: 332352

  • Title: OLYMPICS-BRAZIL/IOC BRIEFING (O) IOC Executive Board meets in Rio, could change advertising rules for athletes
  • Date: 27th February 2015
  • Summary: MEETING IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 14th March 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVADHSA7BXSL7DCSLAWKHKITCP7T
  • Story Text: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board met in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday (February 26) to discuss preparations for the 2016 Olympic Games and priorities for the implementation of the Olympic Agenda 2020.
    The meeting, which was held in Windsor Atlantic Hotel in Copacabana, was chaired by IOC President Thomas Bach, who said he was confident about the state of preparations for the Games after having met with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Tuesday (February 26).
    Board members received reports from various IOC commissions as well as updates on the activities of the IOC administration and preparations for the Olympic and Youth Olympic Games.
    Following the meeting, IOC spokesperson Mark Adams said Olympic officials could change the rule that obliges athletes to halt advertising campaigns during the Games in time for Rio 2016.
    The IOC's executive committee approved the move in Rio on Thursday and will put the plan before the next full IOC session in Kuala Lumpur in July.
    "The IOC would, following session approval, allow generic, i.e. non-Olympic advertising, during the period of the games, which hasn't been allowed until now," Adams said.
    The move would alter Rule 40 that states "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".
    That regulation was seen as overly harsh by some athletes who took to social media to criticise it during London 2012.
    "Those are guidelines for Rio, which obviously will require a charter change which should be in place for Rio," Adams added.
    The IOC also announced that the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics made an operating profit of 3.25 billion rubles ($53.15 million dollars).
    The Adams said the IOC was planning to give its share of the profits back to the Russian organisers.
    "The IOC has already decided to transfer its 20 percent of that total, we're entitled to 20 percent, $10 million U.S. dollars, $650 million rubles, to the Russian Olympic Committee for use in the development of sport in the country, Olympic channel and the Olympic museum in Russia," Adams said.
    The IOC Executive Board will continue to meet in Rio until Saturday (February 28).
    The IOC earlier this week said Rio is entering "the most intense period of preparations" as the city is busy trying to get its Olympic Park and other infrastructure projects ready in time for the games to start on August 5 of 2016.
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