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Redneck Games emcee Freight Train Mills Mike Stewart/AP/Press Association Images

Olympics threatens to sue the… Redneck Olympics

One features toilet seat horseshoe tossing, the other equestrian games. Now a battle is on over the name ‘Olympics’.

THEY COULDN’T BE farther apart: one focuses on the time-honoured sports of athletics, swimming and gymnastics – the other gives prizes for wife-carrying, lawnmower-racing, and bobbing for pigs’ feet.

But the Wall Street Journal reports that the Redneck Olympics is now being threatened with legal action by the US Olympic Committee over the use of the word ‘Olympic’.

The organiser of the Redneck Olympics in Maine, Harold Brooks, told Fox News that he is not going to change the name.

He said:

[Olympics] is a word that was used by the ancient Greeks. This is just a bunch of rich people looking out for other rich people. It’s sickening that if you own a lot of money, you can own everything – even a word.

However the USOC spokesman told FoxNews.com that the word ‘Olympics’ is in fact the property of the USOC.

It turns out that the Redneck Olympics isn’t the only Redneck event – check out these photos of the fun had at the Redneck Games in East Dublin, Georgia last month:

Olympics threatens to sue the… Redneck Olympics
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  • Redneck Games

    Freight Train Mills walks to the stage at the at the 15th annual Redneck Games , Saturday, July 9, 2011, in East Dublin. Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
  • Redneck Games

    A participant spits a watermelon seed during the 15th annual Redneck Games , Saturday, July 9, 2011, in East Dublin. Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
  • Redneck Games

    , Saturday, July 9, 2011, in Atlanta. Ga.(AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
  • Redneck Games

    Robert "Robo" Sprague and his wife Rawni respond to an interview during the 15th annual Redneck Games , Saturday, July 9, 2011, in East Dublin. Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
  • Redneck Games

    Barbara Bailey talks to her toilet seat before the toss competition at the at the 15th annual Redneck Games , Saturday, July 9, 2011, in East Dublin. Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
  • Redneck Games

    A participant dives into a mud-filled pool during the 15th annual Redneck Games , Saturday, July 9, 2011, in East Dublin. Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
  • Redneck Games

    Preston Wright carrying the official Redneck Games torch lights the cigarette of Tabitha Wright at the 15th annual Redneck Games , Saturday, July 9, 2011, in East Dublin. Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
  • Redneck Games

    A participant prepares to throw a toilet seat during the toss competition at the at the 15th annual Redneck Games , Saturday, July 9, 2011, in East Dublin. Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
  • Redneck Games

    Preston Wright carrying the official Redneck Games torch smokes a cigarette at the 15th annual Redneck Games , Saturday, July 9, 2011, in East Dublin. Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
  • Redneck Games

    Jeff Vaughn sings at the 15th annual Redneck Games , Saturday, July 9, 2011, in East Dublin. Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

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