Marketing ban lifted for Games firms

A ban on more than 75,000 companies publicising their work on the Olympic Games is to be lifted after it was highlighted by The Independent on Sunday.

Business leaders were furious that firms who worked on building the stadium and the Olympic Village could not promote their involvement for 12 years, under restrictions imposed by the International Olympic Committee. But last week, after a report by Sir John Armitt, chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority, recommended the ban be lifted in September, once the Games were over, the Government agreed to back the business campaign.

David Cameron, in a speech last week, said it was "vital we don't allow rules on Olympic marketing to block companies from making the most of that success".