Olympic Athlete Blogs Now Authorized by IOC

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, February 15. THE International Olympic Committee (IOC) has changed course regarding athlete blogs at the Olympics, now authorizing such content on the Internet.

Previously, the IOC had banned athletes competing in the Olympics from becoming pseudo-journalists by posting content from the Olympic Games. Now, the IOC is allowing athletes to blog, but with some strong restrictions.

"The IOC considers blogging… as a legitimate form of personal expression and not a form of journalism," the IOC said in a statement. "It is required that, when accredited persons at the Games post any Olympic content, it be confined solely to their own personal Olympic-related experience."

Additional restrictions include no video or audio content being included on athlete blogs, and that confidential information on third parties is prohibited, since athletes are not credentials at the Olympics as media members.

Also, athletes may not have exclusive agreements with any company as part of their Olympic blos, and there will not be any commercial reference or advertising allowed on such blogs as stated by the IOC.

The decision strikes a balance between athletes having the ability to use the Internet to communicate directly to their friends and family back home, as well as giving public users insight into the experience, without infringing on the broadcast rights purchased by companies willing to foot a huge bill that helps the overall Olympic movement grow.

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