Imagine, you’re lined up about to compete in the swimming, but just as the little honk is about to go off to signal the start someone gestures you to get off the block.
Referees draw attention to a tattoo you have, not an offensive or inflammatory one, but of the Olympic rings, and because of this you are disqualified.
But why is this rule actually in place?
British athlete Josef Craig previously fell foul of the rule. (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
It’s all to do with sponsorships and advertising.
Competing in the Olympics and Paralympics may not bring any financial gain, aside from rewards offered to medallists by their home country.
But that doesn’t mean that athletes can’t make a living, as many often have a big public profiles and thousands of social media followers.
Naturally, that means advertisers will emerge to offer them promotional deals in exchange for their endorsement.
However, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has firm rules on body advertising, and this extends to having the Olympic rings tattooed on your body.
Outside the games it’s not their concern, but not during the competition.
Kyle Chalmers was allowed to compete with his five ring tattoo. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
British athlete Josef Craig fell foul of this rule when he posed with a tattoo consisting of the British Lion and the Olympic rings at the 2016 IPC European Championships in Madeira.
As his body art was exposed, the then-19-year-old was disqualified.
The IPC later defended the decision and issued a statement.
It said: “Body advertising is not allowed in any way whatsoever and that includes the Olympic rings… the athlete did not wear a cover and was therefore disqualified.
“All teams are informed of the advertising policy at a technical meeting prior to competition so it wasn’t as if they had not been reminded about the rules.”
Craig went on to compete in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games where he took home the bronze for in the 100m S8 freestyle. He had covered up the Olympic rings tattoo with the Union Jack.
However, in a different case Australian swimmer Kyle Chalmers was permitted to swim with a tattoo that had the five rings.
This was because the International Olympic Committee has different rules from the International Paralympic Committee.
So, while Olympic athletes are generally allowed to have the rings on show, it’s a different story for those competing in the Paralympics.
The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games start on August 28 and end on September 8.
Featured Image Credit: JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images / Pierre Crom/Getty Images
Raygun could be set to make millions from viral fame despite scoring zero at Olympic Games
Raygun, real name Dr Rachael Gunn, could end up making the big bucks after her appearance at the Olympics
Raygun might have not had the Olympic success that she hoped for, but she could now financially gain from her experience.
The dancer, real name Dr Rachael Gunn, has gone viral in recent days following her performance in the Olympics after breakdancing was introduced to the Games for the first time in history.
Her performance was hailed as ‘hilariously ridiculous’ by viewers and the Australian competitor went on to receive a score of zero from the judges.
Breakdancing judge MGbility told News Corp: “I feel personally very sorry. The breaking and hip hop community definitely stands behind her.
“She was just trying to bring something new, something original and something that represents her country.
“We stay with her. Just her level was maybe not as high as the other competitors.
“Again, we’re using a comparative judging system. Her competitors were just better but it doesn’t mean that she did really bad. She did her best.”
You get an A+ for effort from me, Rachael!
While the Olympics didn’t go the way Raygun might have wanted, she could now rake in the cash through endorsements.
Raygun has become a viral sensation. (Elsa/Getty Images)
Speaking to Mail Online, marketing and public relations expert Max Markson spoke of the dancer’s ‘enormous brand’.
“Her reputation in Australia isn’t that great, but she is famous across the world,” he went on.
“I don’t think everyone else in other countries is conscious of how Australians feel about her. I think Australian marketers will be avoiding her for that reason, but there will be somebody in this country who will go for it.
“She will get international offers from sports shoe brands, like Adidas or Puma, food companies like McDonald’s or KFC, electric cars like BYD, and she will get a phone company like Telstra or Optus or Vodafone.
“There will be other international companies that want her as well.”
Raygun’s performance received a score of zero from the judges. (Elsa/Getty Images)
According to Markson, big brands like these will pay up to $500,000 for endorsement deals, meaning Raygun could easily make herself a millionaire should she land some.
“She has a PHD, she has a genuine background, so she will also get speaking engagements. She also has an appeal for kids,” he continued to say. “People will also want her for TV, there will be a TV gig for her in the next six months.”
While the breakdancing event sure got people talking at Paris 2024, it looks like it’s been scrapped for the next Games.
As it stands, ‘Breaking’ is not on the roster for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Sports like cricket, baseball and flag football have been added instead.
IOC President Thomas Bach said that the new sports added for LA 2028 are ‘in line with the American sports culture and will showcase iconic American sports to the world’.
Featured Image Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images / Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Olympic medalist reveals strict reason why Team USA swimmers can’t leave the Village during Games
Twelve-time Olympic medalist Ryan Lochte looked back on his Games’ experience
US swimmer Ryan Lochte has just cleared the air on one of the biggest mysteries surrounding the Olympics.
The twelve-time Olympic medalist is now enjoying the Games from the comfort of his home with his family, but has reminisced on one of the most peculiar aspects of taking part in such a large-scale sports event.
During a Q&A session on his wife Kayla’s TikTok, Lochte has explained why certain athletes are free to leave the Olympic Village, while others have to obtain special permission to do so.
(Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
“What do you mean you are not allowed to leave the Olympic Village? I see all kinds of Olympic athletes leaving the Village,” one fan noted on TikTok.
“Not USA swimmers,” Lochte can be heard saying in the video.
His wife then asked why, to which Lochte answered, “Because that’s the rule for USA swimmers.”
Kayla tried to get Lochte to elaborate, saying: “USA has stricter rules than other countries, right?”
“Yes,” the swimmer simply said, to which Kayla asked, “But you can leave for certain things?”
“Nope,” the former Olympian said, explaining that athletes are required to get the ‘OK through the head coach’ if they want to see their families in the city.
Living conditions in the Olympic village have been a hot talking point during any Olympics so far, and Paris didn’t disappoint in terms of bizarre incidents in the athletes’ living quarters.
Italy’s gold medal winner, swimmer Thomas Ceccon, was caught taking a nap in the park after complaining about the lack of air conditioning in the village. It didn’t take long for fans to put two and two together, though it seems that the nap was nothing more than a moment of rest for the athlete and was unrelated to his previous comments about the village.
The athlete who took the video of Ceccon napping, Saudi rower Husein Alireza, spoke to UNILAD, hitting back at ‘fake news’ surrounding his clip.
(Al Bello/Getty Images)
“I want to clarify that the headlines suggesting Thomas Ceccon was napping in a random ‘park’ are misleading and can give the wrong impression to readers,” Alireza said.
“In reality, the location was within the Olympic Village, as I clearly tagged in the original video. Unfortunately, this detail was cropped out in some of the reports, which may have caused confusion,” he continued.
“It’s quite common for athletes to take naps or relax around that spot in the village, especially as it’s a peaceful area by the river—an ideal spot for a quick rest amidst the intense schedule of the Olympics. I just wanted to make sure the context is accurately represented.”
Featured Image Credit: Al Bello/Adam Pretty/Getty Images
Stefania Sarrubba
Olympic team instantly disqualified from race before it began after making embarrassing mistake
The duo held back tears as they discussed the unfortunate end to their Olympic journey
An athletic couple due to marry next month got the worst send off from the Olympics in Paris after being disqualified before the race even began
Team GB athletes John Gimson and Anna Burnet looked like they were living the dream – their marriage is next month and they got the chance to leave the 2024 Paris Olympics with a medal for their country.
The sailors arrived in Paris hoping to replicate their success in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where they were able to go away with a silver medal in mixed multihull sailing event.
But the pair admitted to being ‘heartbroken’ after realizing an error in the double-points medal race had cost them their chances at the podium in the event this year.
John Gimson and Anna Burnet were disqualified before the mixed multihull event began. (Clive Mason/Getty Images)
The duo were judged to have been over the line when the starting horn sounded.
According to the race rules, they needed to go back and perform a 360 degree turn before restarting the race.
However, the pair were unaware of their error and continued to race on, only to be informed that they had been disqualified by the umpire.
The pair spoke to the BBC after getting back on land and were visibly upset about how things had turned out.
Gimson said: “[This has been] the most brutal way to lose because it is so out of our control. I’m so proud of this week, how we sailed.
“To be honest, I felt so in control of ourselves going into that start, [we knew] what the plan was, where the Kiwis were… and yeah.
“We made one mistake and it’s cost us an Olympic medal so you can imagine we’re pretty broken.”
Burnet echoed her soon-to-be husband’s sentiments but also offered an optimistic outlook going forward.
The pair were visibly upset after their failure to start the race. (Clive Mason/Getty Images)
The Scotswoman said: “In that moment it’s devastating, it’s a bad dream but we can just be proud of what we have done.
“We have been on the podium almost every single regatta this campaign. We are Olympic silver medalists from Tokyo.
“You know, that is sport, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t and today it didn’t.
“We are so lucky that we get to do this together. Sport has been brutal but life goes on and we’ll get married and life will be great. It’s brutal but that’s all it is.”
Now, that’s a brilliant attitude to have, despite the result.
Over on social media, fans have also been offering words of encouragement to the athlete couple and have insisted they have done Great Britain proud regardless.
Featured Image Credit: Clive Mason/Getty Images
Gerrard Kaonga
Raygun’s family break silence to slam judges after she scored zero at Olympic games
Australian breakdancer Raygun received zero points for her Olympics routine and has been offered mental health support after going viral
Australian breakdancer Raygun’s father-in-law has spoken out in her defense, arguing the judges ‘didn’t award’ two important aspects of her routine.
If you haven’t yet seen a clip of Rachael Gunn’s 2024 Paris Olympic Games routine for the breakdancing category, then you’ve been living under a rock.
The 36-year-old’s routine not only went viral for its creative flair, but also as a result of the judges being left far from impressed, with Gunn unfortunately scoring a total of zero points across all three bouts she took part in.
Raygun – real name Rachael Gunn – at the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
After winning the Oceania Breaking Championships in 2023, Gunn qualified for the 2024 Olympics, bringing her coach – and also husband – Samuel Free, along with her to the games.
“We have been on the podium almost every single regatta this campaign. We are Olympic silver medalists from Tokyo.
“You know, that is sport, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t and today it didn’t.
“We are so lucky that we get to do this together. Sport has been brutal but life goes on and we’ll get married and life will be great. It’s brutal but that’s all it is.”
Now, that’s a brilliant attitude to have, despite the result.
Over on social media, fans have also been offering words of encouragement to the athlete couple and have insisted they have done Great Britain proud regardless.
Featured Image Credit: Clive Mason/Getty Images
Gerrard Kaonga
Raygun’s family break silence to slam judges after she scored zero at Olympic games
Australian breakdancer Raygun received zero points for her Olympics routine and has been offered mental health support after going viral
Australian breakdancer Raygun’s father-in-law has spoken out in her defense, arguing the judges ‘didn’t award’ two important aspects of her routine.
If you haven’t yet seen a clip of Rachael Gunn’s 2024 Paris Olympic Games routine for the breakdancing category, then you’ve been living under a rock.
The 36-year-old’s routine not only went viral for its creative flair, but also as a result of the judges being left far from impressed, with Gunn unfortunately scoring a total of zero points across all three bouts she took part in.
Raygun – real name Rachael Gunn – at the Paris 2024 Olympics. (Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
After winning the Oceania Breaking Championships in 2023, Gunn qualified for the 2024 Olympics, bringing her coach – and also husband – Samuel Free, along with her to the games.
UNILAD has contacted the Olympics for comment.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
Featured Image Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/Elsa/Getty Images
