US athletes' twitter stir

Sanya Richa­rds-Ross and a host of US stars have launched a Twitter protest against International Olympic Committee rules banning sponsor promotions around the Olympics to protect IOC backers.

“I am honored to be an Olympian but We Demand Change,” was the phrase tweeted by numerous athletes to protest Rule 40, the IOC directive banning athletes from appearing for personal sponsors during the timing of the Games.

“We definitely don’t want to start a war,” Richards-Ross said on Monday. “I’m definitely not forecasting more Twitter revolts or an uprising of the athletes.”

But the Jamaican-born sprint star, trying for double gold at 200 and 400M, said the internet campaign was only the start of actions aimed at backing the people who fund their gold medal quests when the world is not paying attention.