Decision on Morning Finals for Beijing Expected in August

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, June 21. A decision on whether the swimming finals for the Beijing Olympics will be held in the morning will not be made until August, after the International Olympic Committee has a chance to discuss the possibility with international broadcasters. NBC has requested that the swimming finals be held in the morning in China so the events could be aired live in the United States.

FINA, the world governing body for swimming, has indicated its preference for the finals to be conducted at night, but said it would not oppose an IOC decision to hold morning finals. Major networks from other nations are not thrilled with the possibility of a switch that would cater to NBC. More, several coaches and swimmers from the around the globe have declared their opposition. Others, however, don’t seem to mind, including Bob Bowman. The head man at Club Wolverine, Bowman sees morning finals as less draining because of their first-thing status.

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