Olympic atheletes banned from blogging

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2004-08-20 09:17pm

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/internet/0 ... index.html

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-08-20 09:21pm

Another reason to say "screw the Olympics!"

Grand Admiral Thrawn · Post by **Grand Admiral Thrawn** » 2004-08-20 09:27pm

And if they do anyways what happens?

Mayabird · Post by **Mayabird** » 2004-08-20 09:29pm

It's even slimer than it sounds from first impressions:

The IOC's rationale for the restrictions is that athletes and their coaches should not serve as journalists -- and that the interests of broadcast rightsholders and accredited media come first.

To protect lucrative broadcast contracts, athletes and other participants are also prohibited from posting any video, audio or still photos they take themselves, even after the games, unless they get permission ahead of time.

You'd think with all the problems of athletes from everywhere failing drug tests and bribery and such they'd be able to keep themselves busy, but it seems they have more important agendas.

In my band, we have a cheer for things like this.
"Cor-prate whores! *clap clap clapclapclap* Cor-prate whores!"

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2004-08-20 10:03pm

They said that "athletes shouldn't serve as journalists", but I'm failing to see why athletes blogging is necessarily a bad thing.

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2004-08-20 11:11pm

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi wrote:They said that "athletes shouldn't serve as journalists", but I'm failing to see why athletes blogging is necessarily a bad thing.

Because the media outlets that are paying millions of dollars to the IOC for exclussive news rights would be trumped.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2004-08-21 12:40am

So how does this affect an athlete who may have a personal contract to report or write about what they personally see and do at the Olympics?

Are Olympians now denied the right to have online journals etc...

I seem to recall a few years ago where Jim Lampley was doing bits from the winter Olympics for David Letterman. Because Letterman was not on NBC, the network who had broadcast rights for the Olympics, Lampley had to stop doing the bits or they threatened to take away his press credentials for the Olympics. If anyone saw those bits it wasn't like he was doing anything that would have impacted NBC's craptacular coverage. It was just fun, somewhat goofy stuff, where he mad comments or talked to athletes and spectators in the less serious style of the Late Show.

Even then I can understand the legal issues involved but it's really messed up that the IOC would stick it to the athletes, especially those who aren't getting paid to post stuff.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-08-21 12:56am

This basically implies the poor, poor news conglomerates own the athletes' performance more than they do.

Fuck them.

Post by **Gandalf** » 2004-08-21 02:20am

Well, my boycott begins now.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-08-21 03:42am

Damn this is stupid. They are killing the excitement that surrounds the Olympics.

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2004-08-21 11:26am

The IOC seems to think that selling exclussive rights to a mere handful of media outlets is better. In reality they should be selling rights to a massive number of media outlets AND let print and freelance journalists to report without cost.

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2004-08-21 11:29am

I wonder if they will ban people writing about their own personal experience watching the olympics next.
"I'm sorry sir, but your ticket to watch todays athletics has been cancelled, it has come to our attention that you told some people in the pub about yesterdays competition last night..."

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2004-08-21 11:30am

Double post

Bugsby · Post by **Bugsby** » 2004-08-23 01:00am

This sucks. It brings to light more and more that the IOC is a business. High prices at the games, huge broadcast contracts.... this isn't to help out the athletes at all. They are taking that national pride that comes from the Olympic games and using it to make a lot of money for themselves. I don't know how much they pay the judges (or whatever other costs they may have), but it can't be worth the millions they pocket off of shit like this.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2004-08-23 01:41am

On the flip side, it's further proof that blogging is acheiving mainstream status as an alternate take on newsworthy events.