#rule40

[sadbitchblr-blog]

[tallfitchick]

Ahh...so smart @redstripe #rule40 #olympics #advertising

[iwiwatches]

We're very pleased to report that our mystery man in South America had a tremendous day today, more to come tomorrow, maybe in Brazil..... One day all will be revealed!🙊🤐 #Rule40 #IWI #iwiwatches #horology #horophile #hautehorlogerie #uhren #orologi #montres #chrono #womw #watch #watches # #watchnerd #wristporn #watchgeeks #wristshots #watchaddict #watchcollector #watchesofinstagram #watchesoninstagram #relojes #british #uk #brazil #southamerica #rule40

[iwiwatches]

IWI Watches would like to wish our man in Brazil good luck today. We can't tell you who he is or say any more 🤐 #Rule40 🙊 #IWI #iwiwatches #horology #horophile #hautehorlogerie #uhren #orologi #montres #chrono #womw #watch #watches # #watchnerd #wristporn #watchgeeks #wristshots #watchaddict #watchcollector #watchesofinstagram #watchesoninstagram #relojes #british #uk #luxury

[emersoncollegeesm]

#Rule40: A Ban on Athlete Marketing

by Micah Schweitzer

With the Sochi 2014 Olympics now less than a year away, there has been plenty of buzz discussing social media's role in what is promised to be the most digitally engaged Games to date. Social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and blogs are typically free of content restrictions. Say what you want with the only risk being how the public may react. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says otherwise. For the entirety of the Games athletes are highly encouraged to interact with their fans and share the Olympic experience, but under one condition, Rule 40. No post can be published for commercial or advertising purposes, unless of course the athlete's sponsor just so happens to be an Olympic sponsor. Sponsored by Coca-Cola, McDonald's, or Visa? Tweet away. Sponsored by Nike, GoPro, or Red Bull? Sorry. You can't mention their name once for the whole 30 days of the Games. Additionally, non-partner sponsors are not permitted to use Olympic athletes in any marketing for the same 30 days.

From a consumer perspective, this rule may be embraced with open arms and a sigh of relief that your Twitter feed will be free of athlete product endorsements and advertising. Athletes and non-partner sponsors see it differently. A majority of athletes today, particularly skiers and snowboarders, enter into social media contracts with their sponsors and rely on such endorsements as the source of their livelihood. These brands are part of the athletes' daily lives and they support all of their professional endeavors. They are proud to be sponsored and reflect the brand through their culture and lifestyle. In turn, athletes should be given the opportunity to give back by saying thank you and exposing the brand to a far greater audience. Social media is a platform for athletes and brands to engage with an actively interested audience, start a dialogue, and create relationships. Not only that, but social platforms have the ability to optimize sporting events by listening to the voices of athletes, fans, and brands. If a segment such as non-partner sponsors or the content related to them is excluded, the experience surrounding the Games shifts. Social media should be used to drive transparency and open dialogue, especially for worldwide events like the Olympics because it creates an inclusive atmosphere in which everyone watching is connected.

Rule 40 was instated by the IOC when the Olympics only allowed amateur athletes compete. This was overturned in the 1970s, so Rule 40 is outdated material and restricting the progression of social media and marketing in this digital age. The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) has announced that they are negotiating with the IOC on how this limitation can be amended for Sochi 2014, but nothing has been finalized and change may be pushed off for another two to four years. Social media evolves rapidly every day. Now is the time to harness the full capacity of these online platforms and progress the functionality even further to new uses.

What's your opinion? Should the IOC be allowed to limit what and who athletes discuss through social media simply because of financial sponsorships? Sound off below.

[source: Freeskier, TechCrunch]