U.S. Swimmers May Need To Remove Logos From Caps During Trials

USOC May Force Swimmers To Remove Logos From Swim Caps At Olympic Trials

A dispute over commercial rights is "forcing swimmers to make hard choices about sponsorship loyalty" ahead of the June 29 start of the U.S. Olympic Trials, according to Tripp Mickle of SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL. Several swimmers in recent years have signed deals "giving sponsors rights to feature logos on their swim caps" at the '08 trials. But the USOC and USA Swimming on April 30 sent a memo "advising all swimmers that the organizations would enforce rules that prevent 'commercial identification ... except for the standard manufacturers logo' from appearing on equipment during the trials." California-based Cameron, Pearlson & Foster attorney Rich Foster, who reps agent Evan Morgenstein, has "met with the USOC to try to resolve the issue," but Foster said that the "two parties are at a stalemate." Foster: "They're playing hardball and I don't know why. They're certainly not thinking about the athletes." The USOC claims that the "same rule was in place during the 2004 trials, but that the organization has added language to more clearly explain the rule since then." Mickle notes every athlete before the trials will be "expected to sign an agreement saying they understand and will comply with the rules." It is "unclear what the consequences will be if swimmers ignore the rule and honor contracts they signed before the memo was released"  (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 6/16 issue).