USOC Nixes 'Rat Olympics' in Nebraska

AP/Yahoo ^ | 9/19/03

[martin_fierro]

LINCOLN, Neb. - For 29 years, furry white athletes competed in the Rat Olympics: the long jump, rope climb, tightrope walk, five-yard hurdles and weightlifting.

Now, the U.S. Olympic Committee says the name for Nebraska Wesleyan University's annual behavioral learning rat competition must be changed because it infringes on its name, which is protected by federal law. The few authorized exceptions include the Special Olympics.

So the United Methodist-affiliated school is holding a competition to change the name of the rat runoff.

"While we're disappointed about changing the name, we hope others will enjoy the opportunity to participate in this tongue-in-cheek competition," Wesleyan spokeswoman Sara Olson said.

The deadline for offering names and rating submissions is Oct. 31.

The new name will be announced Dec. 4, the same day that Gidget, Sniffles, Arwen, Frances E. Garfunkle and the rest of this year's rats compete for grub and glory.

And the prize for the winning entry on the name?

"We haven't established the grand prize yet," Olson said. "It's not going to be a free T-shirt. It'll be something bigger."

[martin_fierro]

And Bawney Fwank was so looking forward to competing in the Two Man Luge.

Guess he'll have to save it for the Gay Olympics^tm (USOC-Licensed & Approved)

[martin_fierro]

Speaking of White 'Rats....

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[mewzilla]

The USOC is so full of itself. At least the rat athletes aren't drugged to the gills.

[skinkinthegrass]

And Bawney Fwank was so looking forward to competing in the Two Man Luge.

hehehehe...how about the presidential race of 04?...every 4 yearss.

[Mears]

Reading this article made me realize I need another cup of coffee,much ado about nothing.

Good Lord,the things that groups will complain about.

[newgeezer]

What a freakin' crock. I'd love to see the Greeks give the USOC a taste of their own medicine.

[TheBattman]

I guess ancient Greeks should be sued as well.....I believe they are the ones who started the idea.

[KarlInOhio]

I guess ancient Greeks should be sued as well.....I believe they are the ones who started the idea.

They just copied one of Al Gore's ideas.

[Charles Henrickson]

. . . change the name of the rat runoff.

The "Rat Race," of course.

[Charles Henrickson]

"The White Rat" is his nickname:

[martin_fierro]

The "Rat Race," of course.

Beats my "Rat-Competition-That-Is-Not-To-Be-Considered-An-Olympics-Type-Event."

[Cicero]

How can anyone have a patent on a name that goes back at least 2,779 years?

Maybe they could name it after some of the other Panhellenic games that Pindar celebrates, such as the Pythian Games, the Isthmian Games, or the Nemean Games?

For that matter, what's the Greek word for rat? Let's hear from the classicists.

[martin_fierro]

For that matter, what's the Greek word for rat?

According to this site, it's "megalos pontikos" or "nyfitsa"

[Fire_on_High]

Rodent ping.

[mewzilla]

Ratcathlon?

[farmfriend]

Thanks for the ping. How's Bear?

[Fire_on_High]

Fat and happy :-)