As anyone who has been following the lead up to the 2008 Olympics knows, the Chinese are not fans of freedom of speech. That's primarily because they don't want anyone in the international community to learn that their country has, uh, a few problems.China wants the Olympics to go perfectly, and if that means they have to silence potential protesters
That's why this news comes as a bit of a shock. Late last week the International Olympic Committee gave the green light to allow blogging at the Olympics for the first time ever.
Wow. I was already pretty damn psyched for these Olympics, but this just officially raised the bar.
Now don't get too excited, athletes are supposed to follow certain rules.
"It is required that, when accredited persons at the Games post any Olympic content, it be confined solely to their own personal Olympic-related experience."
Bloggers during the two weeks of the Olympics are banned from posting any Olympic Games visual or audio material and any confidential information on third parties.
In addition, athletes who blog can only post still pictures taken outside accredited areas or their own pictures taken within accredited areas that do not contain any sporting action. Blogs also have to be in good taste and can't have any ads on them.
Well, I'm glad that's solved. As we all know, athletes never disobey rules. I'm sure that of all the thousands of athletes at the Games, not one will consider writing the words "Free Tibet" on his/her blog, leak a video, or make fun of China for shooting missiles into the sky to stop the rain.
Quite simply, allowing blogging in a country that will
By the way, if Michael Phelps suddenly vanishes in the middle of these Games, at least we'll know why.
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