Does Olympics prohibit golfers from featuring in ads during the event? Rules explored

The Olympics have a strict set of rules for golfers participating in their tournaments. Golfers are prohibited from featuring in ads during the Olympic Games, and their sponsors need to wait until the tournament is finally over.

For example, TaylorMade couldn't use Scottie Scheffler for advertisements during the Olympics. But on Sunday, after Scheffler clinched the gold medal, the official Instagram page of TaylorMade posted a picture of the World No. 1. However, bound by the Olympic rules, the page couldn't use a picture where Scheffler was wearing a gold medal or any picture from the course.

Rule 40 of the Olympic Charter states:

“Competitors, team officials, and other team personnel who participate in the Olympic Games may allow their person, name, picture, or sports performances to be used for advertising purposes during the Olympic Games in accordance with the principles determined by the IOC Executive Board.”

Also, there are rules regarding the prior advertisement of any Olympian before the Olympics start. For example, Rose Zhang will be wearing Code Chaos, which is a new Adidas version released two weeks ago. Zhang had to comment on the matter, but his statement couldn't be released before August 13.

“Quotes from Rose will need to be held until August 13 as we abide by the Olympics rule of no Olympian [being] involved in any new promotions during July 18-August 13,” the Adidas officials said.

The brands and the sponsors cannot even use any backdrop of Paris in pre-event advertisements, or any mention of the words 'Olympic Games' in their campaigns. The athletes have to adhere to more rules related to the Olympic games, like sending only one thank-you note to each of their endorsement partners with certain guidelines.

A thank-you note can be posted for each personal endorsement brand on social media with no exaggeration of the product enhancing the golfer's performance. Moreover, the thank-you note cannot have a mention of the Olympics or IOC in it.

How did Scottie Scheffler perform at the 2024 Olympics?

Scottie Scheffler’s total score was 19 under 265. He carded four birdies and no bogeys in the opening round to land at 67. This was followed by four birdies in the back nine of the next round and one double-bogey on the 7th to finish at 69.

In the third round, he fired six birdies on holes 1, 3, 8, 11, 14, and 16. He bogeyed the second and seventeenth holes to finish at 67. In the last round, he had nine birdies, out of which three were on the front nine and six were on the back nine. The round ended at 62.

With that, he won the gold medal, followed by Tommy Fleetwood picking up the silver medal with a score of 18-under 266. The bronze was won by Hideki Matsuyama, who finished at 17-under 267.