“We believe using the name “Ravelympics” for a competition that involves an afghan marathon, scarf hockey and sweater triathlon, among others, tends to denigrate the true nature of the Olympic Games. In a sense, it is disrespectful to our country’s finest athletes and fails to recognize or appreciate their hard work.”

There’s a nice little synopsis of the issue here: http://25dancer.wordpress.com/2012/06/20/righteous-indignation-thy-name-is-knitter/

Ravelympics is an event that’s put on by the Ravelry community.  Challenge yourself to knit something during the course of the Olympics games.  Pick a project that is maybe a little too hard so that it is really a challenge to finish in that time frame.  Join a team and “compete” for online “fame and glory” with other teams to see who can finish the most sweaters, or something like that.  And of course knit and watch the Olympics while you do it.  I haven’t ever officially participated, but I enjoy watching what everyone accomplishes for their projects.

I get all the trademark/brand infringement nonsense (don’t agree with it but I understand what they are saying) but the suggestion that knitters are disrespecting athletes by knitting along in the spirit of the olympics is just incredibly insulting.