GREECE: OLYMPIC GAMES - THE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE IN ATHENS TRYS TO BAN THIS MONTHS GREEK EDITION OF PLAYBOY MAGAZINE FOR USING THE OLYMPIC RINGS LOGO TO PROMOTE A SEX OLYMPICS

Record ID: 491552

  • Title: GREECE: OLYMPIC GAMES - THE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE IN ATHENS TRYS TO BAN THIS MONTHS GREEK EDITION OF PLAYBOY MAGAZINE FOR USING THE OLYMPIC RINGS LOGO TO PROMOTE A SEX OLYMPICS
  • Date: 20th August 2004
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE)(English) ATHENS OLYMPIC COMMITTEE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE SERAFEIM KOTROSTOS SAYING It's a common legal procedure from our legal and marketing department in according to protect our Olympic symbols, it's just that.
  • Embargoed: 4th September 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ATHENS, GREECE
  • City:
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA41PKTH46LW669P6S5N1R9TAR2
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Olympic committee tries to stop Playboy magazine using the five rings logo to promote a sex olympics.
    The Athens Olympics organisers tried to ban this month's Greek edition of Playboy, objecting to an article featuring naked women, sports equipment, the Olympic rings and headlines like "Go For A Sexathlon Gold".
    The magazine's lawyer said on Friday (August 20) a Greek court had refused an injunction which Games organisers said they sought to protect their trademarked symbols and a suggestive reworking of the Olympic motto "Faster, Higher, Stronger".
    The magazine remains on sale at Athens newsstands.
    Sandwiched between glossy, statuesque nudes in sporting poses, the article offers tips on how to achieve "2004 Seconds Of Ecstasy" and "Improve Your Personal Best In Bed".
    The director of the Greek edition of Playboy magazine said the photographs the organisers objected to were all taken by an Italian photographer in 2000 and published in several international editions of Playboy between then and now.
    He says there is a difference between using the Olympic symbols to promote a product and what Playboy Greece is doing which, he says, is just having a bit of fun.
    "The olympic committee was upset and reacted to the magazine as if reacting against a commercial symbol or a commercial product that is in the supermarket. We have to understand that print media is a different thing than promoting beer, oil, disinfectant or napkins," Pagadakis said.
    Editor-in-chief Giorgos Kyparissis also said many of the pictures in question were not new but reprints of widely published shots by celebrated international photographers.
    Pagadakis says he is not interested in ridiculing the Games or the Olympic symbols and that he has not received any complaints by ordinary punters for the use of the symbols.
    The next issue of Playboy is due to show nude pictures of 8 athletes and Pagadakis is concerned that the court may demand they not circulate the new copies.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Video restrictions: parts of this video may require additional clearances. Please see ‘Business Notes’ for more information.
Register