ON THE SIDELINES : Bogus Olympic Souvenirs Illegal

The Atlanta Organizing Committee announced a crackdown today on the sale of unlicensed products promoting the city’s Summer Olympics.

The committee said it will put a stop to the sale of T-shirts, banners, posters and mugs bearing unlicensed Olympic designs. Selling such items violates federal law and denies organizers the money needed to stage the Games, said Doug Gatlin, the organizing committee’s executive director.

“The revenue should be going to the Olympic effort,” he said. “People trying to siphon off that revenue will be stopped.”

Federal law provides a maximum fine of $250,000 and a maximum five years in jail for selling unlicensed Olympic products. Unlicensed goods can be seized on the spot.