The IOC has reprimanded three cities vying for the 2024 Summer Games for breaking rules against explicit campaigning at the Rio Games. The rule at issue prohibits the bid groups from issuing invitations to see their exhibitions inside their country’s Rio hospitality house. Three of the four bids broke this rule, the IOC said.
The IOC would not say specifically who was targeted, but the Italian National Olympic Committee confirmed receiving an email Tuesday. Invitations from the French and Hungarian hospitality houses also specifically mentioned the bid, but those groups did not reply to requests for comment. Los Angeles ’24 has not put out any media releases other than one announcing its press conference Tuesday at the Olympic Park.
Each group is permitted to host one press conference and create an internal exhibition at their house, but may not otherwise campaign.
“Three 2024 candidate cities have contacted media and invited them to their hospitality houses here in Rio,” an IOC representative said. “They have all been reminded that this was not permitted and have subsequently stopped their activities.”
The dust-up illustrates the intricate protocol established for bid city behavior during Rio, all designed to keep the spotlight on the current Games. Bids may create a 20-square-meter exhibition space within their countries’ HQ and are free to demonstrate aspects of their bid to guests, but they may not publicize the bid while in Rio.
Fabio Guadagnini, head of communications for the Rome 2024 bid, said the Italian committee will comply with the IOC’s request.
“It surprised us a little: As you (and the IOC members) have seen, we have strictly respected the rules in Casa Italia: a 20-meter room, not a small and/or single logo of Roma 2024 outside of it, 12 Roma 2024 people in Rio to attend all the meetings of the Observer Program,” he said. “If it’s wrong to invite someone to visit the house of the Olympic Italian committee, we respectfully will follow the instructions and will not do it. Seems to me quite clear.”
Bid experts said the rules draw a distinction between city bids and their national Olympic committees. Officially those are separate entities but in practice are closely aligned.
