IOC Blogging Guidelines
IOC Blogging Guidelines
for Persons Accredited at the Games of the XXIX Olympiad,
Beijing 2008
These Guidelines have been developed for persons accredited (“Accredited Persons”) at
the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, Beijing 2008 (the “Games”) who maintain personal
blogs, accessible by the general public, that contain any content related to their personal
experiences at, and participation in, the Games (“Olympic Content”) upon the occasion of
the Games, namely, from 8 days prior to the Opening Ceremony of the Games until 3 days
after the Closing Ceremony of the Games. They are also applicable to Accredited Persons
who post Olympic Content on the websites of others.
The IOC considers blogging, in accordance with these Guidelines, as a legitimate form of
personal expression and not as a form of journalism. Therefore, the IOC does not consider
that blogs by Accredited Persons, in accordance with these Guidelines, will compromise
Paragraph 3 of Bye-law to Rule 49 of the Olympic Charter which states that “Only those
persons accredited as media may act as journalists, reporters or in any other media
capacity”.
Additionally, accredited persons at the Games must abide by the Olympic Charter.
1. Definition of a Blog
A blog is a type of website where entries are made (such as in a journal or diary), usually
displayed in a reverse chronological order.
2. Personal Information
It is required that, when Accredited Persons at the Games post any Olympic Content, it be
confined solely to their own personal Olympic-related experience. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, blogs of Accredited Persons should take the form of a diary or
journal and, in any event, should not contain any interviews with, or stories about, other
Accredited Persons.
Accredited Persons should not disclose any information that is confidential or private in
relation to any third party including, without limitation, information which may compromise
the security, staging and organisation of the Games and, where relevant, the accredited
persons’ respective Olympic Team or the privacy of any other Accredited Person.
In any event, blogs of Accredited Persons containing Olympic Content should at all times
conform to the Olympic spirit and the fundamental principles of Olympism as contained in
the Olympic Charter, and be dignified and in good taste.
INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
Château de Vidy, 1007 Lausanne, Switzerland, Tel. +41 21 621 6111 / Fax +41 21 621 6216 / www.olympic.org
3. No Sound or Moving Images of the Games
The dissemination of moving images of the Games through any media, including display
on the Internet, is a part of the IOC’s intellectual property rights. No sound or moving
images (including sequences of still photographs which simulate moving images) of any
Olympic events, including sporting action, Opening, Closing and Medal Ceremonies or
other activities which occur within any zone which requires an Olympic identity and
accreditation card (or ticket) for entry - e.g. competition and practice venues, Olympic
Village, Main Press Centre - (“Accredited Zones”) may be made available, whether on a
live or delayed basis, regardless of source.
4. Still Pictures
As a general rule, blogs by Accredited Persons containing Olympic Content must not
include any still picture taken within Accredited Zones at the Games. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Accredited Persons may feature still pictures taken of themselves within
Accredited Zones provided that such pictures do not contain any sporting action of the
Games or the Opening, Closing or Medal Ceremonies of the Games. It is the Accredited
Persons’ responsibility to obtain the consent of other persons appearing in any pictures
which may featured in accordance with this Section.
5. Olympic Marks
The Olympic symbol, the word “Olympic” and other Olympic related words, including, but
not limited to “Olympic Games”, “Olympiad(s)”, “Olympics” and “Olympic Team(s)” and
designs (the “Olympic Marks”) may be used solely for editorial purposes in conjunction
with Olympic Content. Under no circumstances may the Olympic Marks be associated with
any third party or any third party’s products or services in any way that may give the
impression that such third party or such third party’s products or services have an official
relationship with the IOC, the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX
Olympiad (BOCOG), the Games, any National Olympic Committee and/or the Olympic
Movement.
6. Advertising and Sponsorship
As a general rule, Accredited Persons must not include any commercial reference in
connection with any Olympic Content posted on their blogs. Specifically, this means that
no advertising and/or sponsorship may be visible on screen at the same time as Olympic
Content. Notwithstanding the foregoing, advertising and/or sponsorship on the screen at
the same time as Olympic Content is allowed only if it is of the IOC TOP Partners (listed on
http://www.olympic.org/marketing). Subject to the foregoing, any advertising and/or
sponsorship must not be intrusive (i.e. no pop-ups nor expandable banners) and, in any
event, must not take up more than 15 per cent of the screen at any given time. In addition,
the websites of BOCOG, other Organising Committees of the Olympic Games and the
National Olympic Committees, as well as the websites of the official broadcast rights
holders of the Games, may contain advertising and sponsorship as permitted by the IOC.
Accredited Persons may not post Olympic Content on the websites of third parties, and
should take all reasonable steps to stop third parties from doing so, if there is any
association being made between such third parties or other advertising and/or sponsorship
and, on the other hand, the Olympic Content.
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7. No Exclusivity
Accredited Persons should not enter into any exclusive agreement with any company with
respect to the posting of any Olympic Content.
8. Domain Names/URLs/Page Naming
Domain Names including the word “Olympic” or “Olympics” or similar are not permitted
(e.g. [myname]olympic.com would not be permitted while [myname].com/olympic would be
allowed but only during the period in which these Guidelines are applicable).
9. Links
In order to facilitate access to pertinent Olympic information, Accredited Persons posting
Olympic Content pursuant to these Guidelines are encouraged to “link” their blogs to
various official Olympic websites including, where relevant, the website of the accredited
persons’ respective Olympic Team or NOC. Useful addresses include:
www.olympic.org – the official website of the Olympic Movement
www.beijing2008.com – the official website of the Beijing Olympic Games
10. Liability
It is brought to your attention that, when Accredited Persons choose to go public with their
opinions on a blog, they are responsible for their commentary. Bloggers can be held
personally liable for any commentary deemed to be defamatory, obscene or proprietary. In
essence, bloggers post their blogs at their own risk and they should make it clear that the
views expressed are their own.
11. Responsibility and Further Restrictions
BOCOG, the National Olympic Committees, the International Federations and other
entities present at the Games (e.g. media and sponsors) are in charge of ensuring that
their respective delegations (i.e. those persons to whom they grant accreditation to the
Games) are informed of the content of these Guidelines and agree to fully comply with
them. The above-mentioned entities may also impose upon their respective delegations
more restrictive blogging guidelines relating to the Games.
12. Prior or Subsequent Agreements entered into by the IOC
Nothing in these Guidelines shall be interpreted as amending or superseding the terms
and conditions set forth in any agreement entered into, or to be entered into, by the IOC.
13. Infringement of Guidelines
Violation of these Guidelines by an Accredited Person may lead to the withdrawal of such
person’s Olympic identity and accreditation card, as foreseen in the Olympic Charter. The
IOC reserves the right to take any and all other measure(s) it deems fit with respect to
infringements of these Guidelines, including taking legal action for monetary damages and
imposing other sanctions.
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