U.S athletes took to Twitter on Monday to demand an end to the IOC's rule 40 which prevents Olympians from taking part in advertising for anyone expect official Olympic sponsors.
Team USA athletes made the request to be able to decide what sponsors they can promote during the Games. Rule 40 protects the 11 officials sponsors including Visa, McDonald's and Coca-Cola.
Rule 40 stipulates:
" In accordance with rule 40 of the Olympic Charter, 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 except as permitted by the International Olympic Committee Executive Board."
The movement, started by the track and field athlete Sanya Richarch-Ross, was followed by many including Trey Hardee and Dawn Harper, who tweeted a picture of herself with duct tape across her mouth saying "Rule 40."
Richarch-Ross first tweeted. "I am honored to be an Olympian, but #rule40 #WeDemandChange," a phrase which was repeated by other athletes.
https://twitter.com/SanyaRichiRoss/status/229688178569773056
https://twitter.com/ShotDiva/status/229689566443999232
https://twitter.com/TereaBrown/status/229690307913080832
https://twitter.com/Keshia_Baker/status/229690333326364672
The movement was generally welcomed by the public who expressed its support for the U.S. athletes.
https://twitter.com/RoBolt1990/status/229931955976814594
https://twitter.com/ajgifford/status/229924840893710337
https://twitter.com/weffee9run/status/229920053406097410
https://twitter.com/MrsMichelleDi/status/229937797551775744
https://twitter.com/SugarPlum070/status/229933910069501952
Some asked how they could help the Olympians, while others advise them to start an online petition.
https://twitter.com/SwannSoirees/status/229962912272379904
https://twitter.com/tnewmstweet/status/229930359909912576
Julian Moore, a non-profit specialist in Australia, noted that Rule 40 was also preventing athletes from publicly supporting charities and non-profit organisations.
https://twitter.com/SarahHarrisNews/status/229892374669717505
Although athletes' demands were generally positively received by fans and spectators, some Twitter users criticized the Olympians' greediness saying that the Olympic Games were about representing their country and not money. It is worth noting that criticisms were scarce.
https://twitter.com/coachcraigus/status/229693005605515264
https://twitter.com/_RobC91/status/229844604256661504
Others also advocated the need to protect the revenue for sponsors due to the costs of the Games.
