Olympic organizers’ vigilant defense of the rights of companies who pay millions of dollars to become official sponsors of the games extends all the way to the Olympic toilets. In the bathrooms at the Main Press Center in Beijing, grey stickers cover the brand names on the thermostats, sinks, and even the soap dispensers.

Conflicts in league and individual contracts with big sportswear and sneaker companies sometimes cause athletes to tape over logos on their uniforms, but policing the toilet stalls for stray logos seems to take the practice to new highs, or lows.

After committing a brief and largely reversible act of vandalism, this reporter can disclose that the unofficial urinal of the Beijing Olympics is American Standard.

So far, no attempt has been made to cover up unauthorized logos on journalists’ backs, sodas, or fast food bags, but spectators have been warned against group efforts to display commercial symbols at the games.

STADIUM DESIGNER: ‘POLICE STATE’ TO SPOIL BEIJING OLYMPICS

A Chinese architect and artist who came up with the concept for the “bird’s nest” Olympic stadium in Beijing, Ai Weiwei, is warning that China’s heavyhanded approach to security is threatening to spoil the games. “This is an exercise of state power. People’s rights are heavily violated. Is this an Olympics or some kind of warfare?” Mr. Ai told a British newspaper, the Guardian. He lamented the pictures and reports in the Chinese press about anti-aircraft missiles, 100,000 troops, and three times as many police being used to guard against supposed terrorist threats.

“The original idea was to invite the international community to China, share the same values, celebrate humanity and goodwill, to speak about peace and social harmony. But today, you see police everywhere; in every neighborhood there is tight security, not just in Beijing, but everywhere in China. People really live in a police state,” Mr. Ai said in the interview. He said he is proud of the stadium’s design, which is based on an overturned basket his wife found in the Chinese countryside, but objects to the approach China’s leaders have taken to the games.

“I don’t criticize the stadium. I criticize the government’s use of the Olympics for propaganda. I am disappointed that the system is not able to turn this historical event into political reform,” Mr. Ai told the Guardian.