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IOC SOCIAL AND DIGITAL MEDIA GUIDELINES FOR ATHLETES
PARTICIPATING AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES PARIS 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
- When do these Guidelines apply?
These Guidelines apply from the opening of the Olympic Village, on 18 July 2024, until
the closing of the Olympic Village, on 13 August 2024, during your participation at the
Olympic Games Paris 2024 (“Games”). The use of any content produced pursuant to
these Guidelines must at all times be in compliance with these Guidelines and any other
relevant guidelines issued by the IOC for the Games.
- What falls with these Guidelines?
Photos, videos and audio recordings taken by athletes for the purpose of sharing their
Games experience however athletes must not act in any media capacity.
Any form of Olympic content transformed into graphic animated formats, such as
animated GIFs, shall be considered the same as videos under these Guidelines.
- Who do these Guidelines apply to?
These Guidelines apply only to athletes participating at the Games (under Aa or Ap
accreditations). These Guidelines also apply to athletes when they are spectators at
the Games.
All other individuals accredited to the Games, including coaches, technical staff,
entourage, team officials, volunteers, personnel of National Olympic Committees,
International Federations or the Organizing Committee and other team personnel who
participate at the Games, must comply with the “IOC Social and Digital Media
Guidelines for Accredited Individuals other than Athletes Participating at the Olympic
Games Paris 2024”.
- Can athletes use social media or update their websites during their participation in
the Games?
The IOC encourages all athletes to share their experience at the Games with others
through their personal social media accounts and websites (e.g. Facebook, X (formerly
Twitter), Instagram, TikTok) in accordance with these Guidelines.
Athletes are not allowed to create specific Olympic-related websites or social media
accounts using Olympic Properties (e.g. www.athletenameolympicgames.com) but,
where possible, may create a subfolder within their website/social media accounts (e.g.
www.athletename.com/olympicgames).
All posts must be consistent with the Olympic values, be not discriminatory or obscene
and respect the privacy of others. All online activity is subject to applicable laws (e.g. on
defamation).
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- Can athletes post photos or videos taken within the Olympic Village?
Athletes can take photos and record audio and videos within the Olympic Village. These
can be shared on the athletes’ personal website and social media accounts. However,
it is important to keep in mind that if another person’s image is included or referred to in
a post, such person’s permission must be obtained beforehand. Athletes staying in the
Olympic Village are also required to respect the protected atmosphere and privacy of
the Olympic Village and are not allowed to report on the activities of other residents,
unless they have obtained such other persons’ consent beforehand.
Please note that it is forbidden to take photos or to record audio or video in restricted
areas, including but not limited to the medical areas or doping control station.
A post cannot be shared if (i) commercial, (ii) of the medical areas, (iii) using AI or AI
generated content or outputs, or (iv) any video is live or longer than 2 minutes each.
- Can athletes post photos or videos of others?
Athlete privacy must be respected. If another person is included in a post such person’s
permission must be obtained beforehand. For example, athletes staying in the Olympic
Village are not allowed to report on the activities of other residents, unless they have
obtained such other persons’ consent beforehand.
- Can athletes share photos taken from Olympic venues?
Yes, athletes can share photographs taken from Olympic venues on their personal
website and social media accounts. A post with photograph(s) cannot be shared if it is:
(i) commercial, (ii) of the medical areas or doping control station, or (iii) using AI or AI
generated content or outputs. Any “thank-you” messages to sponsors must comply
with the IOC’s Commercial Opportunities for Participants (see summary in the appendix
to the Social Media Guidelines for Athletes).
- Can athletes post or authorise the distribution of remote interviews from Olympic
venues and the Olympic Village?
Athletes can share their first-person experience at the Games, but cannot post or
authorise the distribution of media interviews (including podcasts) with third parties,
except for interviews from an authorised area within Olympic venues (being the mixed
zone, post competition press conference, the Venue Media Centre), the Main Press
Centre and the Olympic Village (being the Olympic Village Media Centre and Olympic
Village Plaza but not the residential zone), or as otherwise permitted by the IOC.
- Can athletes record and post a video of the Opening and/or Closing Ceremony?
Yes, athletes can record and post their experience at the Opening and/or Closing
Ceremony provided that posts cannot be shared if (i) commercial, (ii) using AI or AI
generated content or outputs, or (iii) the video is live or longer than 2 minutes per post.
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- Can athletes post on social media a video recorded by their coaches (or anyone else)
during training or warm-up?
No, athletes can only post content recorded by themselves during training or warm-up
on the condition that it complies with the timing requirement.
- Can athletes authorise the use of their photos and videos by others?
No, athletes’ photos and videos are for their personal use in accordance with these
Guidelines. This includes not authorising the use of their photos or videos by their
personal sponsors (including, if applicable, Olympic sponsors) or any media company
(other than official media rights-holders in the athlete’s country). Official media rights-
holders in the athlete’s country can support and help athletes to engage further with
their fans and followers by distributing such photos and videos.
Athletes can tell their fans to tune-in to their sports competition on the official media
rights-holder of their country (e.g. watch my match tonight on X channel) and can tag
the media rights-holder in the post.
In addition, athletes cannot “cross-post” or otherwise distribute their content to a third
party’s social media account (other than the media rights-holder in the athlete's
country).
- Can athletes use professional equipment to record their videos?
No, athletes can only use their personal mobile phone.
- Can athletes share videos taken from the field of play within the Olympic venues?
Yes, athletes can post videos (up to 2 minutes in length per post) recorded up to one
hour before the start of their competition and recorded after leaving the mixed zone and
the doping control station. Athletes cannot post videos recorded within 1 hour of the
start of their competition or recorded before leaving the mixed zone and doping control
station.
- How soon before the start of my competition can I post?
An athlete can post videos that they record up to, but not within, 1 hour of the start of
their competition. This may include travelling to the Olympic venue, during preparation
and warm-up. An athlete cannot post videos recorded during breaks in competition.
- Can athletes share a video of their reaction directly after competing at the Games on
the field of play?
After leaving the mixed zone and the doping control station, athletes can record and
share their reaction.
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Athletes cannot share video of the field of play associated with the sporting competition
(including anthems, coin toss and celebrations).
- Can athletes record a video on the podium receiving their medals?
No.
- Can athletes record and post a video of the Champions Park?
Yes, athletes can record and post their experience at the Champions Park provided that
posts cannot be shared if (i) commercial, (ii) using AI or AI generated content or outputs,
or (iii) the video is live or longer than 2 minutes per post.
- Can athletes post highlights of their personal competition on social media?
No, athletes cannot post highlights of their personal competition on social media.
An athlete can re-post or share highlights posted by the official media rights-holder in
the athlete’s country.
- Can athletes post content of other athletes training or competing during the Games?
No, athletes cannot post any videos of other athletes’ performances either during
trainings or during sport competition.
- Can an athlete have an arrangement with a social media platform or a non-media
rights-holder under which the athlete could share content created pursuant to these
Guidelines?
Athletes can have pre-existing agreements with social media platforms or non-media
rights-holders, but any such agreement cannot include any content created by athletes
under these Guidelines or acting as a journalist, reporter or in any other media capacity.
- Can athletes share photos and videos captured pursuant to these Guidelines
within games, digital fan engagement activities, immersive environments, and
metaverse platforms (including Roblox, Fortnite, Decentraland, fantasy
gaming portals)?
No. Games, digital fan engagement activities, immersive environments and metaverse
platforms are not within the scope of ‘social media’ for the purpose of these Guidelines.
Athletes’ photos and videos are for their personal use, which does not extend to use in
games, digital fan engagement activities, immersive environments and metaverse
platforms. This includes not authorising the use of their photos and videos as digital
collectibles, NFTs or other virtual products (whether minted on a blockchain or not).
- Can athletes sign an agreement with the official media rights-holder of the Games in
their country to support their promotion of the Games?
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Yes, but athletes cannot act as a journalist, reporter or in any other media capacity
(including by acting on behalf of the relevant media rights-holder).
- Can athletes sign endorsement agreements with Olympic sponsors?
Yes. Any use of photos must be in compliance with the IOC’s Commercial Opportunities
for Participants, however use of videos is not permitted.
- Can athletes post about their sponsors during the Games?
Yes, but this is limited to thank-you messages in accordance with the IOC’s
Commercial
Opportunities for Participants.
Thank-you messages cannot include any video or endorse any product or service.
- Can athletes use the Olympic rings or other Olympic logos in their internet and social
media posts?
Yes, provided that the Olympic rings or other Olympic logos (e.g. Games emblem,
mascots, flags, torches) are not used for commercial purposes, to promote, or create an
unauthorised association with, any cause, organisation and/or any products or services.
The integrity of the Olympic rings and other Olympic logos should be maintained, and
the Olympic rings and other Olympic logos should not be distorted, altered or used in a
context that is not directly related to the Games.
- Should athletes receive unwanted attention online, how can they protect
themselves?
To report a concern of harassment and abuse during Games, athletes can visit the
dedicated mental health zone in the Olympic Village where the IOC Safeguarding
Officers will be located to provide guidance and support. More information and
resources are also available in
https://olympics.com/athlete365/safe-sport/.
For further information related to protection from online harassment and abuse, athletes
may utilise the Athlete365 elearning course Mindful Social Media
.
A new protective measure for cyber abuse has been proactively put in place for all
athletes for the Games. This service monitors and reports in real time abuse directed
online at athletes via Instagram and Twitter, often before the athlete has a chance to see
it.
- What does “commercial” mean?
On athletes’ personal social media accounts and websites, posts (with video or
photographs) taken in accordance with these Guidelines cannot be shared if
commercial, which includes:
o permitting ads in connection with the photos and videos and
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o running paid marketing
o making arrangements with a social media platform or other media company
(other than the official media rights-holder of the athlete’s country) or
o endorsing or promoting any third party or products/services.
Athletes can have pre-existing agreements with social media platforms or non-media
rights-holders, but any such agreement cannot include any content created by athletes
under these Guidelines or acting as a journalist, reporter or in any other media capacity.
“Thank-you” messages to sponsors must comply with the IOC’s Commercial
Opportunities for Participants (see summary in the appendix to the Social Media
Guidelines for athletes).
- How do I turn off ads on social media platforms?
Each social media platform will have a policy on which accounts are eligible for
monetization (e.g., minimum number of followers, verified account, etc.).
Where an athlete’s account is eligible for monetization, below are some resources for
turning off monetization during the period of the Games on key social media platforms.
Monetization and the available tools may depend on the country.
YouTube help - Turn off ads for individual videos
You can turn off monetization for any videos you've already uploaded.
1. Sign in to YouTube.
2. Click your profile picture YouTube Studio.
3. In the left Menu, click Content.
4. Select the video you want to turn off ads for.
5. In the left Menu, click Monetization.
6. In the top “Monetization” box, click Off Apply.
7. In the top right, click Save.
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Facebook - Turn off in-stream ads
How to turn off in-stream ads for a video
1. Go to Meta Business Suite > Content.
2. Click the Published tab at the top.
3. Select the post that you want to turn off in-stream ads for.
4. Click Edit post in the left sidebar.
5. In the right sidebar, click In-stream ads.
6. Turn off in-stream ads.
7. Click Save.
Instagram - Turning off monetization
If you are eligible and onboarded to monetization for Ads in profile
feed or Ads on Reels, you can turn ads off by selecting Ads in profile
feed or Ads on Reels on your professional dashboard, then
tapping Monetize to turn off monetization.
X - Turn off monetization on Amplify
For all categories of advertising, uncheck the Monetize this video button on Media
Studio before posting.
TikTok
All content posted on TikTok under these Guidelines should be organic and free of
commercial association, including but not limited to monetization from promoting or
association with a brand through a Paid Partnership or Promotional content or other
formats such as Creator Fund, Creator Marketplace and tipping/gifting.
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Questions
- If athletes have any questions about the Social Media Guidelines, please contact your
NOC Chef de Mission.
