2 7 July 2004

News:

UK Sport has developed an economic model to show the past and potential benefit of hosting sporting events to the economy.

Benetton has paid the British Olympic Association (BOA) a five-figure sum in costs and damages for the unauthorised use of the Olympic symbols on a range of children’s clothing.

The International Olympic Committee Ethics Commission was asked on 28 July to launch an investigation into allegations of corruption in the bidding process for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Features:

The Olympics. A gathering of the best athletes in the world. An event that draws nations together. A chance for the Corinthian sporting ideal to be renewed afresh. Whilst arguably there is an element of truth within those words, the ever increasing potential of technology and biochemistry to manipulate the natural human form has already thrown a cloud over these Games.

With the Athens Olympics almost upon us, arguably the greatest sporting event on a global scale is a haven for commercial interests, sponsors and advertisers looking to take every opportunity to use the Games as a vehicle for their own aims. Michael Brader, Head of Sport at Olswang, considers how, against that background, those choosing to use sport in this way can best maximise their return.

Litigation is increasingly the first option that those injured resort to when looking for recompense. The potential targets in sport have grown much wider with recent decisions affecting the position of governing bodies. Mark James of the School of Law at Manchester Metropolitan University considers the potential liability of governing bodies for negligent advice in greater depth.

Data protection rights are a matter of concern in the US as well as in Europe. This article examines how personal medical privacy legislation impacts on the relations between athletes, coaches and the media.

It has been reported that David Beckham has 111 registered domain names in his name. With the significant amount of media attention he has attracted following his arrival onto the international football stage during EURO 2004, Wayne Rooney has been quick off the mark and already registered his name in 10 different domains. These footballers, along with all other European sports people, celebrities and brand owners should be preparing themselves for the launch of the new top level domain (TLD), the .eu domain name, and considering how it may be used as part of their brand protection policies.

The Freedom of Information Act is not just about the public sector - private companies with public sector customers should be planning now how to protect their businesses from the Act’s far-reaching disclosure requirements.

The Loi Evin, (which restricts the TV advertisement of alcoholic beverages in matches involving French clubs which are transmitted uniquely in France) is detested by foreign football clubs. Compliance with a law that is backed by criminal sanctions can require clubs to play matches wearing blank shirts if their shirt sponsor is a drinks company. Compliance also requires clubs to remove perimeter signage advertising alcohol - thus exposing them to the wrath of their drinks company sponsors. If they do not remove relevant signage, French television will not hesitate to pull coverage of the matches - as one major English football club has learnt to its cost.