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most important of which were as follows:
A competitor could not take part in the Games if he had received prizes exceeding
50 dollars in value; if he had been paid for teaching or coaching other athletes;
if he had
interrupted his studies or employment for special training in a camp for more
than four weeks in any one year (!); or if he had been paid for the use of his name
or picture, or for a radio or television appearance!!!
The multifaceted use of sports results obviously overthrew these rules in practice,
leading us to the phenomenon of students for life at American universities
winning medals, and permanently serving members of the armed forces in the
communist bloc winning Olympic titles. This situation became legitimate after later
modifications to the Charter.
In 1971, the IOC adopted a new rule 26 which was more realistic. It allowed
competitors to receive financial assistance in the form of grants, removed the $50
restriction and introduced three conditions:
a) The ban on publicity in return for payment was limited to personal use, i.e.
the competitor himself could not ask for payment for his personal promotion.
b) Competitors had the right to appear on radio or television during the Olym
pic Games, subject to approval from the chef de mission.
c) Publicity on sports equipment and clothing was allowed, but only that co
vered by an agreement between the sports article manufacturer and the national
sports federation.
At the end of the 1970s, there was a further change which was more realistic
and wider-ranging than the previous ones.
The eligibility code subsequently allowed the competitor to be employed as a
physical education teacher, but providing basic education, and to accept, during
the preparation period, compensation through his NOC or national federation for:
- food and accommodation costs;
- transport costs;
- pocket money;
- insurance costs;
- the cost of medical care;
- loss of income resulting from being away from work or unable to exercise his
profession owing to his preparation for or participation in the Olympic Games and
international sports competitions, with the agreement of his NOC or federation;
- moreover, he could accept money prizes won in competitions, within the li
mits of the rules of the respective IFs.
Finally, a new paragraph was added on the publicity for which the athlete
could use his person, name, picture or sports performances. In spite of the many
violations, this paragraph was retained until two years ago.
"All competitors...may participate in the Olympic Games except those who
have...allowed their person, name, picture or sports performances to be used for
advertising, except when their IF, NOC or national federation has entered into a
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