American athletes risked disqualification by leading a revolt against the International Olympic Committee on Monday and its laws of forbidding competitors from using social media to promote their sponsors.
Spurred on by the outspoken words of members of the US team, Olympians from around the world launched a Twitter campaign under the hashtags #Rule40 and #wedemandchange in an attempt to pressure the IOC into action.
Rule 40 is the section in the athletes’ code of conduct that warns anyone flouting the strict guidelines on the use of social media as a promotional tool with being expelled from the Games.
Dozens of athletes responded angrily including US 400-meter star Sanya Richards-Ross.
“I’d love to show my great sponsors love,” Richards-Ross said. “I am one of the very fortunate athletes that work with wonderful sponsors during the Olympic year. This is an injustice.”
Others took to Twitter to voice their displeasure, although most were careful to avoid any direct mention of any companies that endorse them.
