Kent's councils and community groups face an Olympic-sized hurdle if they want to celebrate London 2012.

The warning comes after a letter was sent to a sports group threatening to sue over the use of the word "Olympic" at an event.

Organisers were due to stage an "Olympic triathlon" at the Julie Rose Stadium, in Ashford, a meeting of the borough council’s cabinet heard.

Officials at the Games have clamped down on certain words being used this year, meaning anyone looking to hold an Olympic related event cannot say “Olympics” or “London 2012”.

The triathlon that caused the fuss was not tying in with the Games, the word "Olympic" referred to the length of the course being an "Olympic distance" - a 1.5km swim, 40km ride and a 10km run.

But in the year when the country is in the Olympic spotlight, the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) was taking no chances.

And Ashford council, which is understood to be offering support to the event, would also have been at LOCOG’s mercy and could have been sued as well.

Community boss Cllr Michael Claughton, pictured left, said: “There shouldn’t be a ban on the use of these words, it’s rather petty really.

“I don’t know what the repercussions are should I choose to say 'Olympics’. Will I be hung, drawn and quartered?

“These things don’t come around very often and I certainly won’t see the Olympics in this country again, not in my lifetime.

“I’m sure they didn’t have these problems back in 1948 when they were last held. It’s just nit-picking.”

There is a long list of words and symbols that cannot be used, including the Olympic logo, any of the mascots, the words "London 2012", the word "Olympic" and any words that sound “very similar” such as "Olympix".

LOCOG said the brand is a “valuable asset” that must be protected.

A spokesman said: “We have an immediate need and obligation to protect and maintain the current commercial value of the London 2012 brand.

“The hundreds of millions of pounds necessary to organise and stage the Games is being raised by the London 2012 Organising Committee from the private sector.

“In return for investing in the Games, we have promised our sponsors and merchandise licensees exclusive rights to use the London 2012 brand.

“Therefore, we are obliged to prevent other companies undertaking unauthorised activities that undermine or devalue the exclusive rights we offer our sponsors and licensees.”