The BOA is the National Olympic Committee for the United Kingdom and as such has the sole responsibility for raising funds for Team GB. The BOA receives no Government funding and as such relies exclusively on the funds which it is able to raise itself privately, commercially and from members of the public. The vast majority of these funds are raised through the granting of sponsorship, licensing and other commercial rights to allow companies to become officially linked to the Olympic Movement in one form or another.
The Olympic Movementʼs intellectual property is directly and expressly protected by an Act of Parliament; “The Olympic Symbol etc. (Protection) Act 1995”. The British Olympic Association (BOA) and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) are charged, through this statute, with the responsibility for managing and controlling the commercial exploitation or certain protected words and images:
- - The Olympic five ring symbol (or anything similar)
- - The words Olympic(s), Olympiad(s), Olympian(s) (and similar words such as ʻOlympixʼ)
- - The motto “citius, altius, fortius” and its English equivalent “Faster, higher, stronger”
The Team GB and BOA logos are registered trademarks of the BOA. Likewise, Olympic Games logos and mascots are registered trademarks of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and/or the relevant organising committee (e.g. LOCOG).
Any unauthorised use of the BOAʼs protected intellectual property is strictly prohibited and is subject to a number of legal penalties that the BOA and/or LOCOG will enforce.
For the most up to date information on Olympic brand protection guidelines please visit www.London2012.com.
