Polish President Karol Nawrocki violated Olympic regulations by appearing in commercial brand clothing with athletes during the Milan 2026 Winter Olympics.
President Broke Olympic Law
Recently, after the start of the Winter Olympics, President Karol Nawrocki, while among members of the Polish Olympic team, was photographed in a t-shirt and cap from the Nowrocky brand. The photos were posted on Nowrocky.pl and used to promote the brand and store. According to experts, the president broke the law due to the ban on commercial use of athletes’ images during the Olympic Games.
Nowrocky Brand Promoted via Presidential Photos
The online Nowrocky.pl gadget store is being promoted using photos taken by the Presidential Chancellery. Despite assurances from the Presidential Palace about the lack of connection between the Nowrocky clothing brand and President Nawrocki, photos of Karol Nawrocki with the Olympic team appeared on the Nowrocky.pl store website for advertising purposes. The photos were taken in Milan, where the Winter Olympics began on February 6, 2026.
Nowrocky Logo Registered to President’s Sister
State records show that the name and logo of the Nowrocky brand are registered. A request regarding this matter was submitted to the Patent Office by Nina Nawrocka, the president’s sister.
Olympic Committee Ban on Commercial Athlete Images
Rule 40 of the Olympic Charter states that from the moment of taking the Olympic oath until the end of the Olympic closing ceremony, Olympic Games participants cannot be subject to any commercial activities. This applies not only to advertising during the Games, but also to broadcasting commercial content in traditional or social media, according to sports marketing expert Tomasz Redwan.
President Endangered Polish Olympic Team
Redwan questions why the Polish president decided to post a photo with Polish Olympians in a commercial context during the Games. He emphasizes that the president should have been wearing the Polish Olympic team uniform during his visit to the Olympic village and meeting with Polish athletes, as a representative of the country.
Possible Consequences for Athletes
If Nowrocky.pl used the photo to advertise its products, it falls under Rule 40 of the Olympic Charter. Consequences could include removal of athletes from the Olympic Games site, deprivation of Olympic accreditation, and potentially revocation of Olympic medals, according to Redwan.
Olympic “Blackout Period” Purpose
Polish Olympic law gives the Polish Olympic Committee exclusive rights to commercially exploit the image of Olympic team members. Rule 40 of the Olympic Charter, which provides for Olympic silence, was created to protect Olympic sponsors from unauthorized use by other companies of the Olympic image and athletes’ likenesses.
Legal Expert Confirms Violation
Dr. Jacek Masiota, former member of the Polish Olympic Committee, confirms the president broke Olympic law. He explains that while general law might classify this as “hidden advertising,” sanctions would apply to broadcasters, not the president himself. However, Olympic sports law clearly prohibits such promotional activities during the Games, with enforcement authority resting with the Olympic Committees.