Commonwealth Games bid raises fears over brand association

ONE of the UK’s leading advertising membership organisations says it is concerned that Scottish businesses, other than official sponsors, may be prevented from associating themselves with the Commonwealth Games in 2014 – should Scotland win the bid to host the event.

The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising has submitted a response to the Scottish Executive on the draft Glasgow Commonwealth Games Bill.

Says IPA legal director, Marina Palomba: “Scottish businesses may well be surprised, if not outraged, at not being able to refer to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

“London businesses are already up in arms about not being able to say ‘come to London in 2012′, and we, at the IPA, firmly believe that Scottish firms should be concerned that they too will be prevented from referring to this major event before the principle is endorsed in statute.”

Scotland will find out next month whether it has won the bid.