IOC's Rule 40 Hurts Our Wrestlers
Written by: Matt Roth
The Olympic Games are special for many reasons. For me, it's the opportunity to see the very best athletes on Earth compete against one another in front of an international audience. Those athletes trained for years to become the absolute best, working through numerous struggles and failures in order to achieve success.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) doesn't care about those struggles, though. What they care about is money--plain and simple. They're enforcing an Olympic Charter bylaw with the sole purpose of preventing athletes from thanking the companies that supported them on the way to the Games.
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."
In essence, it prevents athletes from acknowledging sponsors on social media during the length of the Olympic Games. They aren't allowed to use photographs or official Olympic hashtags or search terms. In short, Rule 40 is a month-long social media blackout.
The rule also extends to the athlete's sponsors. If they didn't pay an obscene amount of money to become an official Olympic sponsor such as Visa or Coca-Cola, they aren't permitted to acknowledge their athletes at all on social media. Those companies will be unable to reference the Olympics nor allowed to tweet about the athletes they support.
For the majority of these athletes, they reached the highest level because these sponsors have assisted them. These sports require years of dedication, which is only made possible because of the relationships that are fostered between athlete and brand. Everything from equipment to nutrition is taken care of by an athlete's sponsors. In some cases, it includes housing and transportation.
Officially, the IOC states Rule 40 is in place to "preserve the unique nature of the Olympic Games by preventing over-commercialization" while also allowing "the focus to remain on the athletes' performance."
But in the very next bullet point, the actual purpose of Rule 40 is clear: "To preserve sources of funding, as 90 per cent of the revenues generated by the IOC are distributed to the wider sporting movement. This means that USD 3.25 million every day goes to the development of athletes and sports organisations at all levels around the world."
Should an athlete or sponsor violate the terms of Rule 40, punishment is left to the IOC's discretion, and can be as extreme the revocation of an Olympic medal. Because the Games are held in such high regard, absurd rules like this are actually enforceable.
The threat of losing a medal will be enough to keep these athletes, and sponsors that supported them, from celebrating their achievements. That medal is a symbol that all those years of hard work and dedication were worth it.
The harsh reality is the IOC doesn't care about the athletes or their achievements. They don't support those athletes through injuries and failures. They do not care about the successes they find on the field, pool, or court. They are just there at podium so they can say, "This is all because of us."
Without question, the Olympics started as a great idea: an event that brings nations together to allow the very best athletes compete against one another.
But that idea has been corrupted by an organization that no longer puts the athletes above its own interests.
It's time for us to stand up for these athletes. We need to let it be known we're tuning in not for the extravagance of the events, but for the athletes who are competing. The money spent on building stadiums and pools is irrelevant to the sporting community.
We've watched them compete in gymnasiums and will continue to do so because we love these sports. Sports that would exist even if the Olympics ceased to be.
The IOC have openly threatened to sue any company that will put its athletes above the Olympic rings. That threat will silence them for a month as those athletes realize their Olympic dreams.
So it's up to us as fans to speak up for them. I issue this challenge: throughout the Olympic Games, tweet for the athletes and the people who've supported them. The fans are the only ones who the IOC cannot currently bring to court.
And remember to use "#Rule40" whenever you do.
Wrestling
| Athlete | Sponsor | Twitter Handle |
|---|---|---|
| ?Women's Freestyle | ? | ? |
| Helen Maroulis | Adidas | @helen_maroulis |
| Adeline Grey | Asics, DeVry, Jamberry Nails, KT Tape | @AdelineGray |
| Â | Â | Â |
| Men's Freestyle | Â | Â |
| Dan Dennis | Cliff Keen | @DanielDennisUSA |
| Frank Moinaro | Nike, Basch Solutions | @Gorillahulk149 |
| Jordan Burroughs | Asics, Muscle Pharm, Resilite, Chobani | @alliseeisgold |
| Tervel Dlagnev | Cliff Keen | @TervelDlagnev |
Track & Field
| Athlete | Sponsor | Twitter Handle |
|---|---|---|
| Trayvon Bromell | New Balance | @trayvonbromell |
| Marvin Bracy | adidas | @_braceyaself |
| Deajah Stevens | Oregon | @ButDeajahSaid |
| Jenna Prandini | Puma | @J_Prandini |
| David Verburg | adidas | @adiverb |
| Natasha Hastings | Under Armour/NYAC | @natashahastings |
| Boris Berian | New Balance | @borisgump800 |
| Kate Grace | oiselle | @fastk8 |
| Ajee Wilson | adidas | @ajeew |
| Robby Andrews | adidas | @Ra_Andrews |
| Jenny Simpson | New Balance | @trackjenny |
| Brenda Martinez | New Balance | @BMartRun |
| Paul Chelimo | (US ARMY) | @PaulChelimo |
| Kim Conley | New Balance | @kimconley |
| Abbey D'Agostino | New Balance | @abbey_dags |
| Shadrack Kipchirchir | (US ARMY) | @shadrackkipch16 |
| Leonard Korir | (US ARMY) | Â |
| Molly Huddle | Saucony | @mollyhuddle |
| Devon Allen | Oregon | @Devonallen13 |
| Ronnie Ash | adidas | Â |
| Kristi Castlin | Unatt. | @Kristihollywood |
| Byron Robinson | Texas | Â |
| Michael Tinsley | adidas | @Mr400hurdles |
| Hillary Bor | (US ARMY) | Â |
| Emma Coburn | New Balance | @emmajcoburn |
| Erik Kynard | Brand Jordan | @erik_kynard |
| Bradley Adkins | Texas Tech | @bradley_adkins |
| Inika McPherson | Unatt. | @highjumpqueen |
| Cale Simmons | (US AIR FORCE) | Â |
| Jenn Suhr | adidas | @jennsuhr |
| Alexis Weeks | Arkansas | @lexiweeks |
| Jeffery Henderson | adidas | @jeffery_henders |
| Jarrion Lawson | asics | @J_Lawson_ |
| Mike Hartfield | adidas | @FlightHartfield |
| Chris Benard | Chula Vista Elite | @FlyyLikeChrisB |
| Keturah Orji | Georgia | @Keturahorji |
| Christina Epps | Adidas GSTC | @ms_hop_st3pps |
| Andrea Geubelle | Unnat. | @Ageubelleos |
| Darrell Hill | Unatt. | @B1Ghomie |
| Raven Saunders | Ole Miss | @Giveme1shot |
| Tavis Bailey | Unatt. | @volthrower215 |
| Shelbi Vaughan | Texas A&M | @Throw_princess |
Weight Lifting
| Athlete | Sponsor | Twitter handle |
|---|---|---|
| Sarah Robles | 360 Stretch, Superfit Hero | @roblympian |
| Morghan King | Virus International, Progenex, Caffeine & Kilos, lululemon, Renaissance Periodization | @kingmorghan |
| Jenny Arthur | Jamberry | @jlarthur2016 |
| Kendrick Farris | Bless The Gym | @kendrickjfarris |
Gymnastic
| Athlete | Sponsor | Sponsor Twitter Handle |
|---|---|---|
| Simone Biles | Â | Â |
| @Simone_Biles | Â | Â |
| Â | Nike | @nike |
| Â | Kelloggs | @KelloggsUS |
| Â | GK Elite | @gkelite |
| Â | Core Power | @CorePower |
| Â | P&G/Rite Aid | @ProcterGamble |
| Â | United | @united |
| Â | Tide Laundry | @tide |
| Â | Beats | @beatsbydre |
| Â | Â | Â |
| Gabby Douglass | Â | Â |
| @gabrielledoug | Â | Â |
| Â | Citi | @Citi |
| Â | Gilette Venus | @GilletteVenus |
| Â | Nike | @nike |
| Â | Barbie | @barbie |
| Â | GK Elite | @gkelite |
| Â | Â | Â |
| Aly Raisman | Â | Â |
| @Aly_Raisman | Â | Â |
| Â | Reebok | @Reebok |
| Â | Aeropostale | @Aeropostale |
| Â | Smuckers | @smuckers |
| Â | FeatbyAly | @FeatSocks |
| Â | GK Elite | @gkelite |
| Â | Revision Skin Care | @revisionskincare |
| Â | Boston Skin Girl | @bostonskingirl |