[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 85 (Thursday, June 7, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3843-S3844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 487--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT THE 
    AMBUSH MARKETING ADVERSELY AFFECTS TEAM USA AND THE OLYMPIC AND 
            PARALYMPIC MOVEMENTS AND SHOULD NOT BE CONDONED

  Mr. BEGICH (for himself, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Boozman, and Mr. Isakson) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation:

                              S. Res. 487

       Whereas the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will 
     occur on July 27

[[Page S3844]]

     through August 12 and August 29 through September 9, 
     respectively;
       Whereas more than 10,500 athletes from 204 nations will 
     compete in 26 Olympic sports, while 4,200 Paralympic athletes 
     will compete in 20 sports;
       Whereas Team USA athletes have spent countless days, 
     months, and years training in hopes of earning a spot on the 
     United States Olympic or Paralympic teams;
       Whereas the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act (36 
     U.S.C. 220501 et seq.)--
       (1) made the United States Olympic Committee the 
     coordinating body for all Olympic-related and Paralympic-
     related athletic activity in the United States; and
       (2) gave the United States Olympic Committee the exclusive 
     right in the United States to name, seals, emblems, and 
     badges;
       Whereas Congress also authorized the Committee to allow 
     companies to use any trademark, symbol, insignia, or emblem 
     of the International Olympic Committee, International 
     Paralympic Committee, the Pan American Sports Organization, 
     or the United States Olympic Committee in furtherance of the 
     United States Olympic efforts;
       Whereas Team USA is significantly funded by 35 sponsors who 
     assure that the United States has the best team competing for 
     the nation;
       Whereas in recent years, a number of entities have engaged 
     in ambush marketing as a marketing strategy, affiliating 
     themselves with the Olympic and Paralympic Games without 
     becoming sponsors of Team USA;
       Whereas ambush marketing harms the Olympic and Paralympic 
     Movements, undermines sponsorship activities, and allows 
     competing companies an unfair and unethical advantage over 
     companies who are officially sponsoring Team USA and 
     providing funding for the elite athletes of the United 
     States; and
       Whereas efforts to prevent ambush marketing have enjoyed 
     limited success as the strategies ambush marketers use 
     continue to multiply: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) ambush marketing should not be condoned, especially 
     those marketing efforts that adversely affect the ability of 
     Team USA to attract and retain the necessary sponsorships to 
     be successful at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in 
     London, England; and
       (2) corporations in the United States should be encouraged 
     to cease all ambush marketing efforts, particularly related 
     to the Olympic and Paralympic Movements.

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