USA Track and Field Athletes with #Rule40 Blacked-Out Sponsors
It's happening! Here at Oiselle, we stand with our athletes, against Rule 40 — the blackout period from July 27th through August 24th that prohibits athletes and their sponsors from talking about each other in any form.
For athletes, the blackout period and Rule 40 prevent Big Event qualifiers from marketing themselves during the most visible moment of their career. This censorship is incredibly limiting, both financially and professionally. Especially when you consider only half of American track and field athletes who are ranked in the top 10 in their event earn more than $15,000 a year from the sport.
For sponsors, it keeps us from supporting our team, and the talent that we have nurtured over the course of a career. The financials here are real - it takes approximately $300K over a four-year period to develop an athlete that can compete at this level and qualify for this team.
In the future, we will push for change. We want to see money from the millions the IOC/USOC/USATF are making off the image of these athletes – actually make it to the athletes’ pockets. But there is something very real, and very actionable today you can do to support the athletes.
While we are restricted from supporting, celebrating, and promoting our athletes during the window, you — the fans — are not. We encourage you, between now and through the Big Event with the Five Circles, to use the hashtag #freebird16 and tag @oiselle to support our athletes.
And we encourage you to do the same for other brands and athletes. As Phoebe Wright said, “fans are the loophole.”
To make it easy, and to help all athletes get the visibility and support they deserve — we created a shareable (and pinnable!) list of all USATF athletes, and their Rule 40, blacked-out sponsors.
Here’s how to get involved:
FLY WITH US: #freebird16
1. Use our fan-banners to show your support for our birds: Kate Grace, Maria Elena Calle and Maria Michta.
How: Download the banners by opening the link below and saving the image. Add to your Twitter and/or Facebook header.
2. Spread the word - share our Athlete Support Poster and call your community and social network to stand with athletes, against Rule 40 with #freebird16 (see who's posting) and #rule40.
3. Support, share, and celebrate the athletes competing in the Big Event. Using their social handles (found in the visual above) as well as #freebird16.
TAKE A STAND: #Rule40
Learn more about USOC censorships and stand with athletes against Rule 40.
Read:
With The Athletes, Against #Rule40: #FreeBird16
Update: The Big Event in Eugene
Our USOC-Approved Ad Campaign And Why We Decided Not to Run It
MORE STORIES
Core Routine For Runners: The Dozen
I was introduced to the "The Dozen" in the winter of 2012 by my favorite Oregon running family. I love this set of core exercises for its efficient targeting of core muscle groups, and because no gym equipment is required! You can do this on a grass field, in your hotel room, or really anywhere you can lay on a flat surface.
Reflecting on the Year of the Underbird
This past August, we launched our Year of the Underbird program: an open application for aspiring Olympic Trials marathoners, with a promise to select 5 women for a 6 month contract encompassing a stipend, gear, storytelling, and community support. As we reach the end of our flight with our selected athletes, we invited each of them to share a few reflections on their past 6 months as teammates.
Black History Month: Celebrating Our Athletes
We are honored to support five exceptional Black women athletes challenging norms in the running industry: athletes, advocates, and powerful voices in the sport. We invited each of them to reflect on their journeys through sport: how their identity has affected their development, and how they hope to impact the rising generation of athletes. Hear from Madie Boreman, Kendra Coleman, Brenna Detra, Carmen Pelar Graves, and Ari Hendrix-Roach.