Japan – Tokyo Hosts the 2020 Olympic Games

Tokyo beats Istanbul and Madrid

Tokyo was selected to host the 2020 Summer Olympics ahead of Istanbul and Madrid on Saturday 7 September 2013 as being a “safe pair of hands” for this event. The decision was issued at the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) general session.

With its high-quality infrastructure and transportation networks, and a government reserve fund of ¥400 billion, Tokyo delivered the message that it is the “safest and reliable” city to deliver the Games.

Trademark protection during the Olympics

Businesses (mainly sporting brands) pay millions of dollars to sponsor the official Olympic while the IOC is determined to protect that revenue stream by keeping rivals out.

In order to guarantee exclusive rights to these entities and sponsors and to overcome the problem of justifying the significant sponsoring fees to offset the cost of the Games, the IOC has requested host countries to activate an intellectual property legislation system in order to protect the Olympic brands and its sponsors.

This request acts as a trigger to provide supplementary legislation to existing systems which does not contain an ambush marketing provisions to prohibit ambush markers from gaining profitability and publicity while associating themselves with well-known sporting brands.

We take this opportunity to congratulate our friends and colleagues in Japan whose country has been selected to host such an iconic event, which in turn will keep the economic wheel rolling in this vital area of the world.

For any country fortunate enough to be awarded the opportunity to host the Olympic Games, there should be a “safe pair of hands” for trademark sponsors as well.