We Don't Want Shaun White to look like a Formula-1 Car

The Olympics are here and despite any commentary to the contrary- all is not lost with the world's most historic sporting event. The organizers have taken a different route from normal media displays and have chosen not to allow a ferocious amount of product placement in their events.

Say what you will about the olympics- and we won't delve into the debate about the low ratings- but one thing you will notice while watching the men's halfpipe is that Shaun White, despite all his sponsorship duties, does not appear to be a walking billboard for any company. And chances are it's because olympic organizers have strict rules as to the amount of advertising allowed on the athletes clothing. The Austrian Ski Team actually had to tape over the Spyder logo which was prominently and illegally displayed on their outfits.

Under Olympic committee rules:
"Sponsor logos are allowed, but only in certain places; Non-sponsors are out, no matter where;
Venues must be kept free of advertising."
Coca-Cola is one of the largest sponsors of the Olympic Games, and the bottles are being ordered out of camera view point during filming.

Product sponsorship is also restricted in non camera areas. In the press box, dell computers logos are covered. Samsung cannot display the logos in their own VIP lounge.

The director of brand protection, Cecilia Gandini, patrols the olympic venues regularly to fish out illegal displays.

The Olympics are a unifying time for the world. A majority of countries, even Switzerland, let down their guard and compete against eachother for the sake of winning a medal for themselves and their country. The history that supports these games is phenomenal and I applaud anyone who is working tirelessly for the sanctity of the games.