Slashdot Mirror
Olympians Banned From Blogging
nodwick writes "CNN reports that in a bid to protect its lucrative media contracts, the IOC is barring competitors, coaches, and support personnel from writing firsthand accounts of their Olympic experience, on the web or in print, for the duration of the Games. Nor are they allowed to ever post photographs or movies that they've taken, including media of themselves, even after the Games are finished. They've threatened to disqualify anyone that violates their restrictions and sue them for monetary damages. Looks like an effort to clamp down on grassroots, word-of-mouth publicity for the Olympics -- good thing they're not having any problems selling tickets anyways, eh?"
Actually, the Olympic Spirit is about greed. Capitalism wasn't invented at the time, but greed, fame, fortune, were all integral parts of the Ancient games. The "amateur" clause of the modern olympics was made so rich people wouldn't have to compete against commoners. Why allow people who work on the sea compete against you? They spend their lives on the sea, so they're "professionals".
So please, check your idealism at the door, the olympics aren't a celebration of humanity, rather an attempt by people to attain immortality, by any means necessary.
come off as if they were written by passive-aggressive douchebags? "Its not as if ticket sales blah blah blah." Earlier today, "I guess thats what you get when the customer blah blah blah." And earlier still, "I wonder how choked the Hotmail plus blah blah blah." Its lame. If you have a problem with something or someone just say it, in real life or on slashdot. Its not cute, its not clever, its just douchebagish.
But he never asked for it. Where's this 'bad attitude?' where's this 'big mouth.' but i guess because you don't have corporate sponsership, every smile is unjust and portrays someones underlieing greed.
He's not "good" he's fucking awesome. He's just incredible but that doesn't give him the right to stomp around like the raving asshole he is.
I haven't seen him publically denounce the media hype once. I also haven't seen him do anything but talk about that damn picture of Ian Crocker on his wall (yes, the media mentions it but he can always fluff his answer).
There have been plenty of awesome swimmers. I don't think Spitz walked around with that smug attitude when he was a part of 7 Golds and 7 WR's. There have been plenty of awesome athletes at the games. Phelps is just riding his hype.