(JUNE 28) The International Olympic Committee released the guidelines for participants and other accredited persons at the London 2012 Olympic Games.  They published the following guidelines:

IOC Social Media, Blogging and Internet Guidelines for participants and other accredited persons at the London 2012 Olympic Games

1. Introduction

The IOC actively encourages and supports athletes and other accredited persons at the Olympic Games to take part in ‘social media’ and to post, blog and tweet their experiences. Such activity must respect the Olympic Charter and must comply with the following.

Broadly speaking, the IOC wants people to share their experiences through social media.

As a general rule, the IOC encourages all social media and blogging activity at the Olympic Games as long as it is not for commercial and/or advertising purposes.

Capitalised terms used in these Social Media, Blogging and Internet Guidelines have the meaning set out in the Definitions section at the end of these Guidelines.

These Guidelines apply to participants and other accredited persons during the Period of the Olympic Games.

2. Postings, Blogs and Tweets

The IOC encourages participants and other accredited persons to post comments on social media platforms or websites and tweet during the Olympic Games, and it is entirely acceptable for a participant or any other accredited person to do a personal posting, blog or tweet. However, any such postings, blogs or tweets should be in a first-person, diary type format and should not be in the role of a journalist - i.e. they must not report on competition or comment on the activities of other participants or accredited persons, or disclose any information which is confidential or private in relation to any other person or
organisation. A tweet is regarded in this respect as a short blog and the same guidelines are in effect, again, in first-person, diary-type format.

Postings, blogs and tweets should at all times conform to the Olympic spirit and fundamental principles of Olympism as contained in the Olympic Charter, be dignified and
in good taste, and not contain vulgar or obscene words or images.

3. Photographs
Participants and other accredited persons can post still photographs taken within Olympic Venues for personal use. It is not permitted to commercialise, sell or otherwise distribute these photographs.

4. Video/Audio
Participants and other accredited persons cannot post any video and/or audio of the events, competitions or any other activities which occur at Olympic Venues. Such video
and/or audio must only be for personal use and must not be uploaded and/or shared to a posting, blog or tweet on any social media platforms, or to a website.

Video and/or audio that are taken outside of Olympic Venues are not subject to the above noted restrictions.

FULL FOUR-PAGE DOCUMENT ON RULES AND REGULATIONS

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Very Interesting set of rules!  Sue TL Fox