USOC vs. Knitters
The United States Olympic Committee ran into a social media crisis when it sent a cease and desist letter to Ravelry, a knitting group that wanted to host the "Ravelympics."
- It started with a cease and desist letter asking a knitting group to stop using the term "Ravelympics." But the language was harsh. Knitters were offended:
Now I have to boycott the Summer Olympics on principle. USOC needs to get both manners and sense. #Ravelympics- The USOC apologized:
After Knitters Get In A Twist, USOC Apologizes For 'Cease And - NPR4 days ago ... As Gawker reported, knitters were "in revolt" because the USOC's legal beagles got on their case this week...- That didn't go over so well.
Crocheters/knitters didn’t “intend” to denigrate. That’s not an apology USOC. dlvr.it/1llv2w #crochet- The USOC apologized again:
As a follow-up to our previous statement, we would again like to apologize to the members of the Ravelry community bit.ly/Lj34TB.- USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky responded to hundreds of critics:
@skeinnbones check updated statement. Honestly we shouldnt have used some of the words that we did in that letter. So we apologized. Twice- @knitmoregirls thanks. My mother in law is a big knitter! We are nice too. I swear
- Several people accepted the apology:
I just cannot get behind "OMG BOYCOTT!!!" as a response to anything. Especially a misguided C&D letter. Apology accepted, USOC. #ravelympics- RT @dyeabolicalyarn: The update to the apology is more like it. It was never about the trademark. It was about the insult. #usoc #ravelympics
- Here's my interview with USOC spokesman Patrick Sandusky about the lessons he and his organization took from the controversy:
Thanks to @PatrickSandusky for sharing what he learned from the USOC knitting controversy ... great #PR lessons: bit.ly/LLI6Jr- And now Ravelry is choosing a new name for the Ravelympics:
Well, that's that. The Ravelympics mods are running a poll to choose a new name before the end of the day: ravelry.com/discuss/for-th…
