BONN (dpa-AFX) - Olympic athletes will be able to make much more content from previously protected areas of the Games available via their social media channels around the Games in Paris this summer. A corresponding announcement by the Federal Cartel Office on Wednesday is based on the guidelines published by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at the beginning of the year. According to the IOC, these are intended to give athletes more opportunities for postings, but still protect media rights holders.

In future, audio and video recordings of up to two minutes in length will also be permitted on social media from the opening and closing ceremonies, the Olympic Village or the competition venues up to one hour before the start of the competition.

In 2019, antitrust proceedings were initiated against the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on suspicion of abuse of a dominant market position. According to the Cartel Office, the IOC and DOSB have committed themselves to opening up the market, which will grant German athletes in particular more advertising opportunities.

The new guidelines apply to all athletes from the opening of the Olympic Village on July 18 until it closes on August 13./sho/DP/stw