With the start of the Olympics in London only a day away, and while the Games have not begun, this does not prevent the first mishaps of the Olympics from emerging. According to this report in the Telegraph, the Egyptian Olympic Committee (EOC) gave its athletes clothing from a vendor who provided them with counterfeits. The issue was brought forward by an Egyptian swimmer, Yomna Khallaf (right). However, whether all athletes in the Egyptian roster have received counterfeits remains unknown.

The brand which the clothes were meant to bear was Nike -- and, while representatives of the company have been made aware of the issue, they do not seem to be ready to take any further action as to the negligence of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, aside from sending a notice to the EOC.

Under the intense lock-down by the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) to prevent the misuse of sponsors’ logos, names and any words associated with the Olympics under the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Act 2006, the damage that could have been caused to Nike and its image can be an issue. One has to wonder, might the Organizing Committee take action against the EOC on account of their error? With clothing brands such as adidas, one of the partners of the Olympic Games, paying what are often described as exorbitant sums of money to acquire the names and likenesses of Olympics athletes in order to promote their wares, would a non-partner be able to attract the attention of LOCOG? After all, the athletes are the greatest billboard available in the Olympics themselves, reflecting both on the individual nations’ Olympic Committees and the Olympics themselves.  

Class 46 thanks Jani Ihalainen for writing this article.