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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?"
I would rather get the reports right from the competitors but the reality is that this is not about the people that are actually competing and more about the talking heads of the networks. Unfortunately we will put up with this and just say tsk! tsk!
Stay tuned for new sig...
...the legality of the actions taken. For, who actually owns the Olympic games? How can these rights be changed from country to country? I'm absolutely flustered by it all, especially since I thought that, in the first place, taking photos at an event was entirely legal.
The Political Programmer
Just another in a long list of reasons for me to not waste my time watching the Olympics on TV. I remember when just being at the Olympics was enough to justify a lifelong pursuit of perfection. Nowadays, it's just a ticket to a lucrative advertising career, and you'd better get the gold, because 2nd place won't get you on a Wheaties box.
I'm sure this argument will be echoed by other posters, but I think this "Olympic blackout" policy by the IOC is getting ridiculous.
But I also think that the problem is self-repairing.
As it becomes more and more obvious that the Olympics are becoming NOTHING more than a corporate subsidized media event, the whole thing will revert to non-commercial, non-exclusive, pure competition. (Athletic competition, not commercial.)
Of course, we might have to endure the NBC/Nike Olympic Games! first.
Forbidding the athletes to post their own pictures is insane. I guess since the IOC makes the rules, they can just dis-allow someone from participating for any reason they want...but it's definately insane.
--Welcome to the Realm of the Hawke--
Are Belong To Us
Let's see...you train your whole life to have a shot at this thing, enjoy the moment, and want to share that moment with anyone and everyone using your own words. Sounds like natural progression in technology, eh?
Well, too bad. You've got corporate sponsors -- shoes, clothes, probably even the plane ticket to Athens. Then you've got people who commercialize this event so bad that they won't even let you share your thoughts unless they can make money off of it. You're a commodity, not some olympic hero. You're merchandise to be marketed and sold to a public who admire you. Your honor and glory amount to a feel-good story soundbyte...and that's about it.
So much for the spirit of the olympics. I'd have taken the laurel wreath and the vat of olive oil. Then again I'm not an athlete...and I'm not at all marketable...so a good bottle of olive oil sounds nice.
The cold war is over. The feeling of 'east versus west' is gone. A lot of people don't care anymore. After the blatantly corrupt money-grab of the previous Olympics, even fewer people care. Attempts by the organization to commodify all aspects of the Olympic experience will only accelerate the trend.
For me, the most heartening and yet saddest aspect of this debacle is the recognition of the power of the web to convey stories and images much faster and more efficiently than traditional outlets. I suppose the future is here, I guess I just hoped for something else.
Really, are the Olympics anything more than sponser corporations and television networks and the tourist boards of cities trying to capitalize on the nationalism of their respective states?
I have no problem with the commercialization of sports... But I am disturbed by several things.
First, shouldn't the athletes get a cut of the money? I mean, it is the single most popular sporting event in the world. Look how much they make in the NBA, or how much footballers are paid. The athletes are the stars of the show, and other than maybe some endorsement deals afterwords, they get non of the share of the billions made from the Olympic Games.
Second, why do taxpayers have to pay to support the Olympics? Since it is just big buisness now (and there is nothing wrong with that in of itself), shouldn't those profiting from the Olympics bear the sole burdon. I don't see why I need to pay taxes to help the Olympic team promote their new softdrink. The hardworking taxpayer is being extorted to help a bunch of corporations increase their bottom line.
Third, why is it my patriotic duty to have some sort of nationalistic concern over who can throw a heavy object the farthest, or who can shoot a basket? They should give us the reports of how much the multinational corporations make/lose on the olympic games, and we should give the winners metals. Gold for Cocacola, Silver for Mitsubishi, and Bronze for IBM. That would be just as entertaining, and wouldn't stoke nationalistic rivalry.
The capital of Washington is Olympia, named for the Olympic mountains. The name predates the modern olympic games. There are a lot of stores in Olympia and other parts of Washinton that use "Olympic" in their name...or used to. The IOC sued them for trademark infringement several years ago and most changed their names rather than bankrupt themselves fighting the IOC in court.
I think it's time for the world public to retake control of the IOC, they are completely out of control and destroying the games in their mad pursuit of money.
I wonder if some bozo, say...me...were to start writing a blog about the Olympics as if I'm really there covering it.
Could I get sued even though I'm not there and I'm just making everything I write up?
If I had the time I would...but I'm too busy writing Slashdot comments.
"Music is everybody's possession. It's only publishers who think that people own it." - John Lennon.
A small university in Nebraska held an event called the Rat Olympics, but the Olympics Committee apparently owns a trademark on the name of an ancient contest, and threatened to sue. There was no sense behind it, since the Rat Olympics was just a little event held by the Phychology department, but apparently the Olympics people are determined to prove to everyone that they sold their consciences.
The IOC has a copyright and trademark of the word Olympic. They have gone after companies, small business and even mom-and-pop Greek restaurants here in the US for using the Olympic name. The Olympus name is ok, but if you have the word Olympic AND you're not paying them a license fee, they are going to come after you. ;>)
Thank goodness that there aren't any restaurants in Philadelphia names Billy Joel (his name is copyrighted and trademarked too
Although not seen this year, really, whenever the Olympics are held in a US city, there are lots of stories about how lots of companies with "olympic" in their names are chased down by the USOC/IOC.
Sure, some of it is trying to catch the coattails. But going after a greek restaurant named "Olympic Cafe", which maybe has a stylized discus or javelin thrower or greek warrior head on it?
Look at all the guff they've thrown at the Special Olympics, the Paralympic Games, etc. in the past.
The IOC/USOC/media companies are so worried about "protecting" their investments that they are pissing on any sort of grassroots or whatever about it.
I am enjoying watching some of the coverage, but because the US coverage is SOOO overly American-focused, it's disappointing. It gets worse every 2 years now, with Bob Costas inching slowly downward each time with his stupid, dismissive remarks. I like Bob Costas, in the right domain. NBC might as well have Bill Walton or Marv Albert doing the same thing as Bob. Jim Lampley (of course, he got started when ABC used to do it...) would be 100x better than Bob Costas in that role.
Oh well. For those of you that can get non-NBC coverage of the Games, you're lucky!
This theory is not without a basis. I've seen this sort of thing happen (though on a significantly smaller scale). There's a festival held near my home every year. For a few years it had gotten increasingly commercial, up until last year where every single booth and kiosk was related to some big name company, and you got as much schwag as at a convention. But no one was there. This year? Almost all of that crap was gone, there was just a single solitary little KFC booth way in the back. Everything else was back to being operated by little local businesses and organizations. And you know what? The place was packed.
I don't know why this is modded as "Funny", but what the heck...
Some other interesting tidbits to note:
The IOC (AFAIK) isn't based in any one country, so where would the lawsuits take place?
Under what laws would competitors be held liable?
How would this be any different than the average attendee posting results on *their* blog? How would they know? Does the IOC even care?
I'm sure the IOC would be able to prevent most video and still cameras from entering the events with a non-media attendee, but they can't stop them from remembering what went on and reporting about it verbally.
I found it very sneaky that NBC has full broadcast rights to the games in the USA, and has, with the cooperation of the IOC and other online media outlets, beaten back the "official" real-time online broadcasts from entering our borders. Methinks that NBC might have something to do with this new action by the IOC.
Just a hunch, though.
My sources are unreliable, but their information is fascinating. -- Ashleigh Brilliant
I wonder if the IOC will ban the use of cellphones by participants at the 2006 Winter Olympics(tm)...
Pretty sad, really.
Government's idea of a balanced budget: take money from the right pocket to balance...oh who am I kidding?
Their legacy extends to their hyperlinking policy, which says that you have to apply in writing - they even include a snail-mail address - before linking to the Athens Olympic site.
Blog
That's why the Gay Games are not the Gay Olympics. It is particularly silly in that case, considering that the original Olympics consisted of naked athletes performing for horny male spectators.
If you get the link from a third party and have not seen the policy, then you cannot agree to it, therefore you're indemnified from any breach of contract action they may try to file against you (IANAL, I just speak like one).
These sponsor contracts are very lucrative for the IOC, and though they may be a non-profit, they pay for many expensive perks and luxurious travel for the IOC's directors (do you think they fly to check out potential sites in Coach class?).
What's funny is that sometimes becoming the official anything of an olympic event may be worth way less than you paid. Converse paid millions to be the official shoe of the 1984 summer Olympics and blew their budget doing so, having little money to leverage and exploit this supposedly plum sponsorship.
Nike, not having thrown 8 figures at the organizing committee, blitzed advertising around L.A. and during the broadcast. By the end of the games, if you asked people what the official shoe was, they were answering "Nike".
- Greg
Start a happiness pandemic
Back in about 1988 or so, they went after "Olympics of the Mind", who had to change their name to Odyssey of the Mind.
Anyone know how the X Games feels about this issue as pertains to their games? They generally seem to be much more liberal.
You know, a while back Fidel Castro was lobbying for a Havana Olympics, perhaps in 2012, but I can't remember. Anyway, the IOC said that it was impossible because Havana doesn't have the required infrastructure.
Castro's response was that he knew his country didn't have the kind of resources to provide an ultra-modern olympic village like other countries do, but that despite their apparent lack of infrastructure and small size, Cuba has always produced good athletes. His opinion was that in a less modern country, athletes would have to focus on the game more than the money, and that the Olypmics was becoming too commercialized.
At the time I laughed, because to Castro, buying a candybar with your own money is probably too commercialized, but after reading the last few articles about IOC shenanigans I'm beginning to wonder if Havana wouldn't be a good place for the games. You can bet your tush that Castro wouldn't allow it to be the Corporatist games. Hey, he may be a communist dictator, but sometimes, that's a good thing. Can you imagine an olympic games without coca-cola ads everywhere, but instead, just a bunch of the best athletes in the world competing?
I haven't seen anything other than swimming, gymnastics, or beach volleyball.
Then you're not just a troll, but one without a television. Let's see what's been shown today that ISN'T one of your hated sports...
I believe NBC said they would cover something like 3 hours in EVERY SPORT. From what I've been taping this week, I have to agree. I've seen rafting, some sort of weird round-ball-with-hands, fencing, five more listed above, and all the other "hated" sports. Just because you're too lazy to look doesn't mean it's not there.
specific Olympian and the media's quest to make the rest of us idolize him
Ready? People like heroes. It's cool to see. Even if he didn't medal, the fact that he's racing 18 times is pretty darn impressive. The fact that he's winning... what, does it piss you off that someone's doing well? If it annoys you that much, hit mute and just watch and enjoy the games. Even if you hate him, guess what? You're getting more swimming, which more people are watching.
Wah.
I saw his cocky little smile showing that he wanted MONEY.
And? What's wrong with that? More power to him. What is with the communist screed on slashdot over certain things?
why not make rules banning professionals from competing
I'll agree with you there. That was the whole point of bringing the Dream Team over the first time - you want pro, we'll bring pro. I'll agree with what Costas said... "Unfortunately, marketing won."
"Sometimes a woman is a kind of religion, she can save your soul & set you free from all your sins" - Bad Examples
Peace through sports? Not until we get rid of the sporters and those who measure the worth of their country through beating other countries.
Commmon wisdom says that sport is not meant to bring about peace but to be a more peaceful replacement for all out war.
Guess the Games have become about money too now.
They are also about the orgy that is the Olympic Village.
Yeah, I remember that. Completely disgusting--to one the one hand attempt to claim a 2000-plus-year-old heritage and a shared world experience, and on the other hand to claim that it's all your own private property.
Though I wonder whether anyone's ever actually fought them on this, or whether they're all just giving in when they get the first cease-and-desist letter. Does anyone know of any actual cases?
--Bruce Fields
Each athlete signs an agreement to abide by the Olympic committee's code of conduct. That code includes these clauses:
Reading that I would argue that posting on a blog is not acting in the capacity of a journalist. Nor in a 'media capacity'
I would also argue that that posting photos of myself or my medals is not for the 'purpose of trade'.
Then I'd ensure that those photos were taken by friends and family, and not me.
And then the USOC will not 'reasonably withhold' permission for me using those images.
Anyway, it'd be fun to see one of the athletes test this. 'Course, it's not my medal on the line ;)
--
Gold Medal Winning Linux VPS Hosting
The radio station serving Whistler BC, home of the next Winter Olympic games, isnt allowed to use the term '2010' in any sense that makes reference to the event other than in news reports. And some here joked that the current IP madness would result in corporate control of numbers and letters.
Just wait until the day when an athlete's medal is revoked and barred from further competition - not for cheating by drugs or otherwise - for sharing their experiences with others. The public outcry for reasons of either nationalism or 'simple' human decency will not allow it! On that day there shall be such an outcry that no one will ever again strive to participate under the Olympic's current administration.
It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of work to do.
- Jerome Klapka Jerome
I was watching the US women's soccer match against Australia the other morning, and the stands were quite honestly emptier than any stands I've ever seen for any sporting event, ever. The Whitbread across the ocean yacht race had more spectators. Mile 143 of the Iditarod had more spectators.
There were no spectators on the far side of the stadium from the cameras. There were no spectators in the stands at either end zone. Not figuratively; literally: zero. And while I know that there must have been some spectators on the near side, because I heard one or two "USA!" cheers and, I think, an "Aussie Aussie Aussie!" cheer (also, the announcers mentioned that some of the players had family in attendance), they were invisible to the high stadium camera.
Presumably, they were all clustered low, near the center line or behind the benches; but with the exception of one suspiciously close-cropped shot of a couple of cheering fans used as B-roll footage on a return from commercial, there was no visual evidence that anyone was in attendance.
Now, I understand that women's socccer is not exactly as popular in Greece as it is in America, or even, say, Germany or Mexico; but I live in Atlanta and, you know, we sold out Archery -- not exactly a sport designed for thrilling live audiences -- in 1996. We sold out Field Hockey. We sold out the Modern Pentathlon. We sold out Team Handball, fer chrissakes, and it's hard to imagine a more obscure or unpopular sport in America (my wife and I went to it, too, and it was great fun to watch).
As I said to King Kaufman at Salon.com, "2004 in Athens marks the first Olympics to ever be boycotted by its host country."
I live in Japan and it's the same. For the most part, only events with Japanese competitors are covered and the anouncers don't even try to be unbiased as they wouldn't keep their jobs if they were unbiased. I feel happy for many of the individual athletes themselves and could care less about the nationalism crap.
I'm pretty sure just about all countries use the games for propaganda purposes both domestically and internationally.
AFAIU, that was how the modern Olympics were in the beginning. The instigator (de Coubertin? I'm too lazy to look it up) was a French Anglophile who was determined to keep the riff raff out of his 'pure' games. The only way a 'commoner' could afford to take time from work in order to train or compete was to earn money from their sport.
Even now, poorer countries are restricted on the number of athletes they can send, even if they're good medal chances.
I wonder if Michael Phelps would ever have done what he's done (I'm an Australian and I wish he hadn't) if there was no money in the sport. No, he'd be back in the States serving fries at McDonalds.
And Roy and H.G. would still be commentating the NRL.
Cogito, ergo sig.
Because the Bush reelection campaign paid good money to use clips from the Iraqi and Afghani athletes in its television commercials and it would be embarassing if those same athletes continued speaking out against Bush.
Here in Greece we have shorts of stuff named Olympi-something all over the place. Mount Olympus, Olympic hotel, Olympic airways and so on. At least here, it would appear utterly insane to try to force someone not use that name. Hell, I personally know of many girls named "Olympia".
What sort of stupidity is this? Surely they can't own the damn name since they haven't invented it in the first place.