[Omah]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...pic-rings.html

The organisers of the Olympics have been accused of using over-bearing behaviour after a small chain of estate agents was threatened with legal action for decorating its shops with an Olympic theme.

Webbers Property Services, a chain of regional estate agents in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset, marked the torch relay passing its branches yesterday by creating window displays featuring Olympic rings made from plastic gym hoops and Olympic torches crafted from old For Sale signs.

However within hours of the relay convoy passing the branches, the company’s boss received a stern legal letter from LOCOG demanding that it removed the items “as soon as possible”.

LOCOG said that strict rules mean that only official sponsors are allowed to display images of the Olympic rings or use the words “London 2012” and “Olympics”. Failure to remove the items could lead to “formal legal action”, LOCOG said in the emailed letter.

Malcolm Prescott, the Webbers’ managing director, said the letter was “unbelievable”

“We’ve made a few home-made displays and we’ve been made to feel like we’ve broken the law,” said Mr Prescott.

He said he was concerned at LOCOG’s “heavy-handed” manner, and added: “Local businesses beware.”

Colin Thorne, branch manager of Webbers in the village of Braunton, said he was “incensed”. He said that the company and its staff were simply trying to enter into the Olympic spirit.

“This took us time and effort when we could have been selling houses. We thought this is a once in a lifetime thing. This is not about the Olympics for people. This is about Olympics for [official sponsors] Lloyds Bank, Samsung and Coca Cola,” said Mr Thorne.

He added: “We are convinced LOCOG is driving through with the [torch] entourage and somebody dedicated is taking photographs of business premises, whizzing them straight back to London 2012, and then legal emails come straight back out.”

LOCOG’s letter said: “Whilst we appreciate your enthusiasm and support, use of the Olympic rings in the window of a commercial office inevitably creates an association between the Webbers and the Games and allows the Webbers’ brand to benefit from the goodwill and excitement of the Olympic Torch Relay.

“If we allowed companies to associate with the Games without paying for the right to do so, the rights we offer to our sponsors would be undermined.”

Yeah, it's all about the money .....

[Kizzy]

Im fecking sick of hearing about the olympics...