An ad in President George Bush’s campaign could be in violation of the bylaws of the Olympic Games and U.S. Olympic Committee officials have contacted the campaign about the ad and are awaiting a reply.
The ad shows a swimmer and the flags of Iraq and Afghanistan. An announcer says, “in 1972, there were 40 democracies in the world. Today, 120. Freedom is spreading throughout the world like a sunrise. And this Olympics there will be two more free nations. And two fewer terrorist regimes”.
According to an act of Congress, last revised in 1999, the USOC has been granted exclusive rights to such terms as “Olympic” derivatives such as “Olympiad” and the five interlocking rings. The act also specifically says the organization “shall be non-political and may not promote the candidacy of a individual seeking public office.
Anything relating to the Olympics belongs to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in general and to the USOC in the United States.
The Associated Press reports that some of the players on the Iraq Olympic soccer team have complained about the ad appearing as part of a political campaign.
Bush campaign spokesman Scott Stanzel said Friday there are no plans to pull the ad. He said, “we are on firm legal ground to mention the Olympics and make a factual point in a political advertisement”.
Bush campaign aides contend that the law gives the USOC exclusive rights only to use the Olympics name to sell goods or services or to promote athletic competition. They said the campaign avoided using the symbol of five rings in the ad.
