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Blogging the Olympics

I normally don't like regurgitating news that made it's way to Slashdot. I somehow imagine that anyone reading my stuff is bound to be a /. reader as well. However, I'm making an exception for this one given it's relevance to blogging, free press, and the recent concerns over television broadcast rights of the Olympics. According to an article on CNN, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is forbidding athletes to blog, or post online, anything about their Olympic experience unless they are talking with an official media channel; and they are forbidden (indefinitely) from posting any pictures or video they take during the event. The article goes on to say:

"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."

That puts a nice spin on it, but perhaps it should read, "The IOC does not get revenue for athlete blogging and the accredited media threatened not to pay for coverage rights if we couldn't guarantee exclusivity."

I suppose the IOC does have to cover the costs of running the Olympics somehow, but is revoking participants rights to talk about their experience the right way to do it?

The Slashdot thread contains the usual barrage of comments.