Customs seize 669,000 fake Olympics items

Enforcement operations carried out by customs in the build-up to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris led to the seizure of 669,000 counterfeits, mostly in France, according to Le Parisien newspaper.

The haul – which includes 500,000 items seized in France – comes from a series of operations carried out since December 2023 and includes knock-off clothing, flags and pennants, keyrings and other merchandise sporting the Paris 2024 logo and images of the Phryges, the official mascots of the games.

A few weeks ago, customs officers simultaneously inspected 17 warehouses in eastern Paris, which resulted in the seizure of 145,000 counterfeits.

Ahead of the games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Paris 2024 Organising Committee said they had implemented a "comprehensive anti-counterfeiting programme" that included "advanced authentication and traceability technological measures" as well as training of law enforcement authorities around the world to help them detect of fake Olympic and Paralympic-branded merchandise.

They said that counterfeit products not only undermine official merchandise and the rights of commercial partners but can also pose safety risks to consumers due to substandard materials and manufacturing processes.

Anne-Sophie Voumard, managing director of IOC Television and Marketing Services, said: "The revenue generated through the sale of official licensed products supports our efforts in giving back 90 per cent of our revenues to athletes and sports development worldwide. This amounts to U$4.2m daily."

That contribution is particularly important in regions that solely depend on solidarity funding from the IOC, she added.

Top image: © IOC/Christophe Moratal