The importance of being cautious when using the Olympic vocabulary in commercial messages.

Beyond the Olympic emblems and the expressions "Olympic Games" and "Olympiad", the use of the term "Olympism”, and above all the adjectives "Olympic" and "Olympian" in a promotional or commercial context, without the authorisation of the CNOSF (French National Olympic and Sports Committee), is now also punishable on the basis of the criminal offence of infringement pursuant to the Intellectual Property Code.

Article L. 141-5 of the Sports Code, amended in view of the Paris Olympic Games in 2024, states that any advertising or commercial use of the term "Olympic" is prohibited, even though no likelihood of confusion in the public mind is characterized.

The purpose of this extension of the CNOSF's rights would be to ensure better protection for the official partners of the Olympic Games, who alone will be authorised to make commercial use of the event.

In practice, the CNOSF is apparently already active in defending its rights, by systematically sending letters of formal notice. For example, Cyril Hanouna, who, in his programme, had launched a column entitled "The Olympiads", indicated that he had had to change the name of his column for "The Babalympiads" following a complaint by the CNOSF.