Beijing - The Beijing Olympics not only stand for internet
restrictions - there is also a new freedom on the internet as Olympic
athletes can talk about the restrictions and other issues on their
own blog on the world wide web.
The Olympic Charter prohibits any journalistic work by athletes,
but since the Turin Winter Games 2006 the IOC has been forced to
acknowledge a new era and allow blogging during the Olympics.
Under special IOC rules, the blog is not to contain interviews,
photos and moving pictures from areas reserved for accredited people.
A photo of the athlete is allowed, but not taken in an Olympic area.
That was unheard of in 1992 in Barcelona, where the opening
ceremony almost ended in scandal when American stars brought mobile
phones along and relayed their impressions live to their home
country.
It was a blatant violation of Olympic rules but then IOC boss Juan
Antonio Samarach issued a reprimand instead of kicking the athletes
out which would have been possible as well.
But nowadays the IOC must acknowledge that young people use modern
communications techniques which include blogs.
Once several athletes had their blog in Turin 2006 the IOC
executive board drew up rules to officially allow athletes their
blogs while at the same time preserving the rights of the accredited
media and the IOC sponsors who were paying big money to be part of
the Games.
'The IOC considers blogging as a legitimate form of personal
expression and not as a form of journalism,' the rules say.
'Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, blogs ...
should take the form of a diary or journal and, in any event, should
not contain any interviews with, or stories about, other accredited
persons.
'In any event, blogs containing Olympic Content should at all
times conform to the Olympic spirit and the fundamental principles of
Olympism as contained in the Olympic Charter, and be dignified and in
good taste.'
Blogging falls under the rules from eight days before the Games
until three days after the closing ceremony. The IOC guidelines only
apply for the Beijing Games and not future Olympics.
Within the guidelines given, blogs could be one way for athletes
to speak freely about sensitive issues such as human rights in China.
International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge did not
explicitly mention the blogs, but did reiterate on Saturday that
athletes were able to speak freely in Beijing within the rules of the
Olympic Charter.
'The athletes have the right to freely express themselves. If they
want to criticise China they can do it at home or in China in a
public place.'
The Charter prohibits demonstrations of a political, religious or
racial nature in all Olympic areas including the athletes' village.
'The reason is that in the Olympic village there are 205 national
Olympic committees. The Olympic village is a microcosm of the world.'
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