Former International Olympic Committee marketing chief Michael Payne criticised the organising committee for 'scoring an own goal' over exclusivity rights. A leading Olympic brand expert last night hit out at the draconian clampdown on local shopkeepers and businesses using the Games logo. Former International Olympic Committee marketing chief Michael Payne criticised the organising committee for ‘scoring an own goal’ over exclusivity rights. He said that the over-zealous rules are ‘suffocating local street traders’, in the light of critics dubbing London 2012 the ‘Censorship Games’. Mr Payne added that guidelines were ‘never intended to shut down the flower shop that put its flowers in Olympic rings in the window’.
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Former marketing chief Michael Payne said organisers are 'scoring an own goal' over exclusivity rights
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Run up to the Games has seen rigorous enforcement of branding rules with flower shops and cafes ordered to take down displays
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Games chief Lord Coe warned anyone wearing a Pepsi t-shirt would be refused entry
Coes said: ‘No, you probably wouldn’t be walking in with a @placeholder