Christians in Sport Release Guidelines for Churches on 2012 Olympic Games

Christians in Sport has issued guidelines for churches and Christian groups to ensure they are careful in how they refer to the Olympics in literature and on websites, as well as other media.

|TOP|The nationwide Christian sports ministry warned churches and Christian groups to be particularly cautious in observing copyright, owned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG).

Christians in Sport told churches to be careful not to make reference to the Games in any way “that could be construed as linking them and their activities with the Olympic Games to further their own ends”.

A statement by Christians in sport said the purpose of the guidelines was “to ensure that churches and Christian groups do not unwittingly find themselves in breach of copyright, which could result in legal action, have a negative impact on Christian ministry, destroy the relationship between LOCOG and the Church, and jeopardise sports ministry around the London games”.

Christians in Sport set out a list of the official Olympic marks, which include the words ‘Olympic’ or ‘Olympics’ and the symbol of the Olympic Rings, asking churches and Christian groups not to reproduce the marks in any of their publications without permission.

Christian groups and churches were also urged to avoid titles or phrases like “Olympic Service” and “Olympic Outreach”, recommending instead “Sport Service” or “Sport Outreach”.

“Not only is unauthorised use of registered logos and phrases technically stealing, but we have a responsibility not to bring the Gospel, the Church or Christian ministry into disrepute. Wrongful use of the Olympic marks by one group could potentially jeopardise many ministry opportunities currently afforded to us by the London games,” read the Christians in Sport guidelines.

Meanwhile, London’s official “Olympic vicar”, the Rev. Alan Piggot, stressed last week the importance of church collaboration in the run-up to the 2012 Games, the Church Times reported.

Rev. Piggot was recently appointed to the Vicar of St Mary of Eton with St Augustine in Hackney Wick, which will be home to four indoor sports arenas for the Games, as well as training facilities for athletes and swimmers.

Following his appointment, Rev. Piggot, a keen runner, commented: “The whole Olympic site will cover four deaneries, cutting across London and Chelmsford dioceses. We clearly need to build links, and I know that the Bishop of Stepney and the Bishop of Chelmsford [the Rt Rev John Gladwin] are already doing so.”