No Olympic For Gay-games (Press, 26 August 1982)

On 26 August 1982, the United States Olympic Committee successfully obtained a court order preventing the promoters of a homosexual sports event in San Francisco from using the term "Olympics" in their event title. Chief Judge Robert Peckham of the District Court ruled against the use of the name "Gay Olympics" for the athletic event scheduled to begin on 28 August 1982, stating that it could misleadingly imply a connection to the official Olympic Games sanctioned by the United States Olympic Committee. The ruling was supported by the International Olympic Committee, which joined the American committee in its appeal against San Francisco Arts Athletics and its founder, Thomas Waddell. Waddell, a former member of the 1968 United States Olympic decathlon team, expressed deep disappointment, calling the decision a significant blow to human rights and to the gay community, as well as to gay athletics which he now referred to as the Gay-Games. The United States Olympic Committee argued that allowing the use of the term "Olympics" could negatively impact the upcoming 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and jeopardise funding for the American Olympic team sourced from private sponsors and licensing deals. Mary Dunlap, the lawyer representing Arts Athletics, contended that the ruling infringed upon the rights of free speech, arguing that the term "Olympics" had entered the public domain. She suggested the possibility of an appeal but indicated that discussions with her clients would be necessary before making any decisions. Judge Peckham clarified that while the Amateur Sports Act permits the Olympic Committee exclusive rights to the use of Olympic-related terminology, it does not outright ban the general use of the word "Olympics". He maintained that the context of the current event fell within the scope of exclusive uses granted to the Olympic Committee. Peckham acknowledged the historically discriminatory experiences faced by homosexuals, but asserted that this particular ruling did not constitute discrimination under the provisions of the Amateur Sports Act. Vaughan Walker, representing the Olympic Committee, welcomed the decision, deeming it a fair outcome.

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