US athletes get their kicks at Rule 40

LONDON 2012 WAS promoted as the ‘first social media Olympics’. But the opening week of London 2012 saw more controvesry in the social media sphere than harmony. Two athletes were sent home for posting offensive material on Twitter and a man was arrested on suspicion of posting “malicious communications” to British diver Tom Daley. However, the most high profile battle was between a group of US athletes and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding Rule 40 of the Olympic Charter. Rule 40 prevents any competitor, coach, trainer or official who participates in the Olympic Games from involvement in advertising or promotional activity unless approved by the IOC.