Decoding Olympics Controversial Rule 40: Celebrated US Content Creator Shares His Inside Take During a Justin Gatlin Interview

Paris is months away and athletes might have to curb their financial enthusiasm during this time! While it is a lifelong dream to win an Olympic medal, athletes would like to show off and make money from it. However, the updated Rule 40 of the Olympic Charter might cause just a tad bit of a problem for the athletes.

As per the IOC’s June 2019 update, the rule allows the players and their sponsors to congratulate each other. However, it explains how an athlete “can engage in and benefit from commercial activities around the game.” Doubling down on the matter, Justin Gatlin sat down in an interview to decode the entire impact of the rule. 

Justin Gatlin discusses Olympic Rule 40 

Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green recently sat down with Andrew Martin of Total Running Productions, a celebrated US content creator. During their conversation, the trio discussed various things related to track and field. At one point during their interaction, Gatlin took up the issue of Rule 40, which would be implemented at the Paris Olympics 2024. Gatlin stated that while modern athletes are used to self-promotion, the rule might hinder their usual promotional activities. 

He then turned to Martin and asked him his opinion on whether the IOC should look to amend the rules or not. Martin felt that while participating in the Olympics is itself caviar, the organization must relax some of its rules. He stated, “Why not let them host whatever they want to… give them a little more freedom.”

Martin further questioned in favor of allowing the athletes their freedom to do whatever they wanted. Martin also went on to say that such practices have a good chance of hindering an athlete’s performance on court. However, the Rule 40 was not the only thing that the trio wanted to change in the track and field realm. 

Rodney Green discusses track and field underpayment

Gatlin turned to his fellow host Rodney Green to ask what are the other things that need to change in track and field. Reflecting on the same, Green stated that he wanted the athletes to get paid a lot more than what they are signing up for at the moment. He said, “Our biggest stars I feel like even Noah for what he signed I still think is underpaid.” 

Martin, on the other hand, advocated for higher exclusivity for the top tier athletes. He pointed out, “We need more creative groups to give the athletes the space, the exclusivity.” Thus, with the Paris Olympics coming thick and fast, it is expected that such discussions will only pick up pace in the future. 

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