UK: Suppliers to the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics can finally publicise their involvement in last summer's events following the lifting of the gagging order which had previously prevented them from doing so.
The widely criticised No Marketing Right Protocol Agreement, which suppliers to the Olympics had to sign, has now been lifted after a deal was reached between the UK government, British Olympic Association (BOA) and International Olympic Committee (IOC).

According to the parties involved: 'The deal will give companies the recognition that they deserve for the part they played in the success of the London Games.'

Culture secretary Maria Miller and BOA chairman Lord Sebastian Coe have announced that the companies which helped build the park, venues and provided goods and services for the Games will be able to actively promote their work on the London 2012 Games. Companies will, however, have to apply to the BOA for a free licence.

'The move is designed to provide a significant boost to the country's economy by helping firms land contracts and deals on the back of their involvement with the London 2012 Games' they say.

The UK government is said to have committed £2m to the British Olympic Association to allow them to establish and operate the new 'supplier recognition scheme'. On receipt of the free licence companies will be able to promote their work at trade shows both in the UK and internationally, apply for industry awards for their London 2012 work and use their involvement in direct pitches and tender documentation when competing for international contracts.

According to the Olympic organisers, the No Marketing Rights Protocol agreement was established to ensure that the main sponsors' rights as 'very significant' financial contributors to the event were not undermined.

The agreement, which the British government agreed to, was subject to a large amount of criticism from the media and, closer to home, from the building services industry, air conditioning and refrigeration equipment suppliers.

Industry comes second in Olympic gagging event: http://www.acr-news.com/blog/view_entry.asp?id=221