The IOC Committee recently enforced a new rule according to which sport manufactures have to scale down the size of their logos. Adidas, Umbro and Kappa are all affected by the decision. But it mostly influenced Adidas as in Athens in 2004 they were let to exempt from the rule.

This time, although Adidas with its huge three-stripe logo is the main sponsor of the Olympics, the German sport wear retailer will be made to follow the rule on both the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and the 2008 games in Beijing. "All manufacturers will be treated the same," the IOC told The Financial Times.

The IOC rules will ban the larger than 20 square sm. logos on uniforms. The regulation will start working at the next year’s winter Olympics in Turin.

Andre Gorgemans, secretary-general of the Swiss-based World Federation of Sporting Goods Industries, said he received a letter from the IOC spelling out the rules.

"Obviously Adidas is unhappy with this and they want to reserve their historical right," Gorgemans said.
The spokesman for Adidas Anne Putz said the rule will make the company remove its logo from the clothing, but not from shoes and other equipment.

"We are in contact with the IOC marketing department and we hope to reach a long-term solution," she said.