Vancouver's Olympic Organizing Committee (VANOC) is upset with Esso and Imperial Oil.

A contest by the oil company asks people to "Cheer on Canada" and offers a trip to the winter Olympiad in Torino, Italy next year. However, VANOC says the contest gives the impression that Esso is an Olympic sponsor.

"Although they are sponsors of Hockey Canada, they do not have any right to associate themselves with the Olympic Games or the Olympic brand in any manner whatsoever," said VANOC's John Furlong.

The committee is concerned with protecting its official sponsors, many of whom have paid a lot of money to become Olympic partners. That's why they are speaking out about the contest. However, John Furlong says the committee is also interested in keeping a promise.

"We have a responsibility to the Olympic Games. We made a promise and signed a contract in Prague that we would uphold the Olympic brand, the Olympic movement," said Furlong.

Imperial Oil is disappointed and surprised to be under attack. The company believes it has sponsorship rights through Hockey Canada.

"Our program takes into account some of the rules about not infringing on that and in our view, we've respected all of those," said Imperial Oil's Richard O'Farrell.

The company plans to continue with the contest for now, but says it will take a second look.

With files from Shelly Makrugin in Calgary and St. John Alexander in Vancouver