Be careful what you write
Wednesday February 24, 2010 - Email this article to a friend

Fears have been rising that some of the 5,500 Olympic athletes and officials have been Tweeting too much information and threatening the likes of commercial companies and sponsors of The Games.

The 2010 Winter Olympics have already been branded the "social media Olympics" by many of the media out in Vancouver, and they are increasingly using Twitter and Facebook content in their reports from the games.

Olympic athletes are forbidden from posting sounds or images from events and presentation ceremonies online. They are also banned from publishing interviews with fellow athletes or staff at the games.

However diary blogs solely about their own Olympic experience are permitted.

The use of commercial messages from any companies other than the nine official sponsors of The Games is also prohibited.

Finally, the athletes are not allowed to distribute any information that could damage the privacy of others or endanger other participants in the Olympic competitions.

Some of the athletes are unhappy with the new rules, but photographers and journalists are undersandably pleased about the restrictions on images and words.

The American short track speed skater J.R. Celski, who is an avid Twitter user, was shocked by the restrictions. "It was bizarre to see what we are not allowed to do or say," he said.

We've been searching around on Twitter and Facebook and reading what our British athletes at the games have been saying and I think it's safe to say they are enjoying themselves and not breaking the rules.

Ed Drake wrote on his twitter page after the Men's Super-G, "Thanks guys, skied good in places but too many mistakes..... Grrrrrrrr shoulda done bit better."

Whilst Dave Ryding  wrote this, "just moved into the Olympic village, cool to be around all the other Olympic athletes, GS was tricky today with the snow but some gd turns!"

Chemmy Alcott remains upbeat and excited about her progress at The Games on Facebook and keeps thanking those supporting her and women's alpine skiing in general.

See our special Olympic Section on PlanetSKI; as well as the latest news it is has some in-depth features and a few stories that you won't see elsewhere.

While the latest blog from our content editor reveals he has got rather swept up in it all too.

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