“These games are really going to be about the voice of the people. And we’re using Facebook, using Twitter to try to bring that to bear, but we’re also using Flip. We’re going to put those video cameras out in the field before the games, collect a ton of great video from athletes, from fans.” (Cisco Systems)

Olympic athletes will be skiing, skating and bobsledding in Vancouver, but one thing they can’t do – blog about it. The International Olympic Committee, or IOC, is cracking down on athletes that tweet, Facebook and blog, saying they can’t post pictures of the games, videos or even Olympic logos.
Now critics are asking, have they gone too far?

We have perspectives from the IOC, Facebook, Cisco Systems, Raincity Studios and others.

The IOC’s blogging guidelines say journalists have nearly free reign, but not everyone qualifies as a journalist. The new rules have bloggers and athletes confused about what they can and cannot say. Skier Lindsey Vonn told her fans on Facebook she wasn’t allowed to say anything.

"Hey everyone, because of the Olympic rules (blackout period) I will not be able to post any updates from now until March 3rd. Sorry, it bums me out too!”

But that’s not exactly right. Olympic athletes are allowed to post on social media sites during the games, but are limited to writing about their personal experiences. On YouTube, 3-time Olympic hockey player Angela Ruggiero, says she and other athletes rely on social media for fan support.

“As an athlete, you’re training all the time and I’ve been able to use all different means of communicating with my fans through social media….It’s a daily update, I’ve been able to talk to fans, they talk back to me and that interaction I think is special and goes above and beyond what has traditionally been out there for athletes.”

And according to some, the new guidelines will shut down some types of journalism.

Vancouver web company, Raincity Studios has been unsuccessfully pressing Olympic officials since 2008 to allow citizen coverage of the 2010 games. In an open letter, the company writes:

“We are not looking to cover events per se but are instead interested in covering the cultural stories, athletes' families' stories, and stories from fans who saved and traveled from around the world for this experience. In other words, … coverage of the individual's "on the street" experience of the Games.”

But the IOC’s new guidelines shut down that idea. Taking it a step further, blogger David Churbuck blasts the Olympic Committee, saying their policies are outdated and self-serving.

“The IOC is protecting its bank.  The guidelines continue to be restrictive, negative, and defensive in nature, and shows the wide distance the IOC needs to cover before it catches up with the reality of athlete, coach, sponsor, and fan generated content and coverage.”

So do you think the IOC has crossed a line by restricting the voices of bloggers and athletes? Are you planning on following the games on social media?

Writer: Ann Langworthy

Producer: Ann Langworthy