American athletes risk disqualification from the 2012 London Olympics

 
American athletes at the 2012 London Olympics became part of another fiasco on Monday. Athletes from the squad of United States are heading towards a direct collision with the International Olympic Committee following a revolt against their rules and regulations.

American athletes risk disqualification for the revolt they have initiated against the International Olympic Committee, which is stopping them from using social media to promote their sponsors.
 
Officials from the International Olympic Committee have informed that no athlete is allowed to use any means of social media or any such medium to publicize or promote about their sponsors at the 2012 London Olympics.
 
This law hasn’t gone down well in the United States camp. As a matter of fact, American athletes are currently trying to increase their numbers in order to force the International Olympic Committee into removing this law from the rulebook.
 
Members of the United States squad are gathering Olympians from around the world to support them against the International Olympic Committee. A Twitter campaign under the hashtags #Rule40 and #wedemandchange is already under way.
 
An unnamed member of the United States squad told media that hopefully the International Olympic Committee will come into action and remove such laws or athletes supporting this campaign will increase pressure.
 
An official from the International Olympic Committee explained that Rule 40 from the athletes’ code of conduct warns about the usage of social media. The official told reporters that there were clear guidelines on the issue.
 
Rule 40 also states that any athlete using social media as a promotional tool will be disqualified from the Olympics immediately.
 
Many athletes have responded irritated and anguished at the International Olympic Committee. The US 400-meter star Sanya Richards-Ross explained that athletes wanted to express their support and love to their sponsors.
 
“I’d love to show my great sponsors love,” Sanya Richards-Ross said. “I am one of the very fortunate athletes that work with wonderful sponsors during the Olympic year. This is an injustice.”
 
American athletes continue to voice their displeasure over Rule 40, but fear of the International Olympic Committee is keeping them from mentioning names of any companies or sponsors that are linked to them.