By  'Registering Your Games', you will be giving us enough information to create your Games' page and it will appear within a week or so under the relevant area. Here are some questions that we often get asked about promoting Community Games (and the answers):

Is there a logo for the Community Games?

Can Community Games use the Olympic or Paralympic logos?

Can individual Community Games use the Inspire Mark?

If a Community Games attracts a sponsor, can their logo be featured?

Can the Inspire Mark be used alongside a funding organisation’s logo (not a commercial sponsor)?

Can a Community Games use the word ‘Olympics’ or ‘Paralympics’?

Does an existing event have to rebrand itself to be classified as a Community Games, e.g. the Newtown Summer Show - would we be asking them to change their name to the Newtown Community Games?

Is there a logo for the Community Games?

Yes there is a Community Games logo which features on all the marketing and promotional materials.

Can Community Games use the Olympic or Paralympic logos?

No-one apart from the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) can use these logos and their use (and misuse) is very strictly monitored. To connect initiatives with the London 2012 Games, LOCOG has created the Inspire Mark – a logo which recognises projects that are inspired directly by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  The Community Games programme has been awarded the Inspire Mark.

Can individual Community Games use the Inspire Mark?

Yes they can use the event-specific postcards and posters that will be produced by the Community Games support programme and carry the Inspire Mark.

If a Community Games attracts a sponsor, can their logo be featured?

Commercial sponsors’ logos (other than those of the official London 2012 sponsors) cannot appear alongside the Inspire Mark, so if a Games finds a commercial sponsor that is not already an official sponsor of the London 2012 Games, they will not be able to use the Inspire Mark – so therefore will not be able to access the free posters and postcards produced by the support programme. 

Can the Inspire Mark be used alongside a funding organisation’s logo (not a commercial sponsor)?

Each use of the Inspire Mark needs to be approved by LOCOG (the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games) but as a general rule, the Inspire Mark and funding logos can appear together as long as the funder has no commercial association. However, the Inspire Mark should be treated as a ‘quality mark’ rather than a funding logo, and would ideally be given higher prominence. Advice about placement of the Inspire Mark is available.

Can a Community Games use the word ‘Olympics’ or ‘Paralympics’?

The International Olympic Committee is very protective of the words ‘Olympics’ and ‘Paralympics’ and the Olympic rings and Paralympic symbol. An event cannot feature the words ‘Olympics’ or ‘Paralympics’ in its title, for example it cannot be called the ‘Newtown Olympics’. In written copy it is only permissible to use the words in a factual way, for example talking about the fact that the Community Games is celebrating the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  It is not permissible to talk about ‘Olympic-style’ events, but you could refer to ‘Olympic’ sports when talking about the sports on offer at your Community Games. You could also talk about teams at your Games representing countries that compete in the Olympic Games.

Does an existing event have to rebrand itself to be classified as a Community Games, e.g. the Newtown Summer Show - would we be asking them to change their name to the Newtown Community Games?

Not necessarily, we would just be looking to them to include some of the Community Games promotional material, and to register their event on the Community Games website. Of course if an existing event wants to change its name to ‘Community Games’ that’s great.