Head of IOC Press Commission criticizes IRB media restrictions
14/09/2007 |
 |
 |
The International Rugby Board may have damaged its bid for entry to the Olympic Games with its attempt to impose restrictions on photographic agencies at the World Cup in France.
In a report in Australia's leading national newspaper The Australian, chairman of the International Olympic Committee's press commission, Kevan Gosper told Nicole Jeffrey he was dismayed by the IRB's attempts to control the use of photographs taken at the World Cup.
Jeffrey reports:
The IRB became involved in a bitter stoush with the world's biggest press and photographic agencies last week over restrictive rules it wanted to impose in return for media accreditation at the World Cup.
The agencies invoked a 24-hour boycott of the event last Thursday before reaching an agreement with the IRB just hours before the World Cup opening ceremony on Friday.
"This is not the way to behave if you want to be an Olympic sport," Mr Gosper warned the IRB yesterday.
The IRB has been campaigning for years for rugby sevens to be admitted to the Olympics.
Mr Gosper said he wanted to reassure the world's press that the IOC had no plans to restrict press or photographic freedom beyond traditional boundaries at next year's Beijing Olympics.
"There's been several international federations who have moved in on the written press in the last few years and that makes me uneasy," he said.
"For the IRB to put these constraints on the agencies is absolutely wrong. I want to make it clear that we are not compliant or complicit in the IRB's moves. We will keep the status quo at the Olympics."
The IRB attempted to restrict photographers to transmitting 50 photos a match to newspapers and websites, and to claim the right to use the photos without charge.
It also wanted to control how photos were presented.
"I have never seen this sort of move by a sport in my 20 years on the IOC," Mr Gosper said. "I am a bit concerned that some international federations believe that the cash flow that derives from broadcasting rights entitles them to take a more high-handed approach with the press.
"They are not recognising the role the written press plays to set the scene for major events and provide the stories that frame the pictures. The press is also the main conduit for freedom of information.
"For those international agencies to say we can't work under these conditions and threaten to boycott an event and for the IRB to think that's fine is incomprehensible to me."
Mr Gosper is also leading a move to make the Olympics more internet-friendly as a way of ensuring its future popularity with younger generations.
The IOC press commission has recommended the removal of restrictions that would stop athletes from writing blogs during the Beijing Olympics.
The IOC is expected to approve blogging later this year but under conditions that prevent sponsors or media companies from using athlete diaries for commercial advantage.
Rugby was played at four Olympics from 1900 but was dropped from the program after 1924 and has never been reintroduced. The IRB has been campaigning for sevens rugby to be included in the official IOC sports.
(Source: AIPS)
|
| Back |
|
|
|
|
 |
