1. U.S. ATHLETES CAN THANK SPONSORS AT OLYMPICS WITH MARKETING RULE CHANGE: Athletes will now be able to thank their sponsors at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, after the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee made changes to Rule 40 of the Olympic Charter on Tuesday. The marketing rule has restricted what athletes can do and say with their sponsors right before and during the Olympics, and many athletes have said the rule goes against freedom of speech. The New York Times: “Restrictions remain. Athletes will be limited to seven thank you messages during the Games, and the content of such messages will be scrutinized. A post like ‘Thank you for supporting my journey’ is acceptable, but terms like ‘Tokyo 2020’ and ‘Team U.S.A.’ and Olympic imagery are forbidden. Athletes also cannot promote unofficial products directly with phrases like ‘Your product is the best.’”
2. EPIC GAMES WON’T BAN ESPORTS PLAYERS FOR POLITICAL SPEECH AFTER BLIZZARD CONTROVERSY: Video game developer Epic Games says it won’t ban esports players for political speech. The statement comes after video game company Blizzard banned a player for voicing support for Hong Kong protesters after a tournament. The Verge: “‘Epic supports everyone’s right to express their views on politics and human rights. We wouldn’t ban or punish a Fortnite player or content creator for speaking on these topics,’ an Epic Games spokesperson told The Verge. Over the weekend, Blizzard banned Hearthstone player Ng ‘Blitzchung’ Wai Chung from participating in tournaments after he voiced support for the protesters in Hong Kong. In a post-game interview on Sunday, Blitzchung said, ‘Liberate Hong Kong. Revolution of our age!’ Now, he cannot participate in any tournaments for an entire year, and Blizzard is withholding any prize money he would have received in the Grandmasters tournament over the weekend. Those forfeited winnings have been reported to total around $10,000.”
3. BETO O’ROURKE PLANS EVENT TO COUNTER TRUMP RALLY IN TEXAS: Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke is planning a counter event to Donald Trump’s upcoming rally in Dallas. O’Rourke will hold the “Rally Against Fear” on October 17 at the Theatre at Grand Prairie at the same time Trump addresses supporters at the American Airlines Center. Associated Press: “O’Rourke told the Associated Press that his event will be open to anyone who wants to stand up for the truth at an important moment in the nation’s history. … The Republican president flew to O’Rourke’s hometown of El Paso in February for a rally at a packed arena in support of expanding the U.S.-Mexico border wall. As he spoke, O’Rourke headlined an event that drew thousands protesting the Trump administration’s immigration policy at a nearby baseball diamond. The two venues were so close that at moments when the cheering quieted during O’Rourke’s speech, the echo of Trump’s address being broadcast on speakers outside the venue where he was speaking could be heard.”