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The IOC and the MediaAIPS Annual CongressBeijing, 22 May 2008

Anthony Edgar

Head of Media Operations, IOC

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1. High Demand Events in Beijing

2. IOC and Photography

3. IOC and Editorial Independence

4. IOC and News Access

5. IOC and the Internet

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Beijing 2008

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High Demand Events for Media

• Opening Ceremony• Closing Ceremony• Finals Sessions of Swimming

Possible High Demand Events• Basketball - Bronze & Gold Medal Matches (M)• Artistic Gymnastics - Individual All-Around Finals (M & W)• Table Tennis - Team and Singles Gold Medal Matches• Volleyball - Gold Medal Match (W)

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The IOC and …

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The IOC and … Photography and Photographers

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"...there is a disturbing trend amongst other sporting groups to think conceptually of photographs as being something other than news.  The term “Rights Holding Photographers" is a disturbing term if it ever found its way into organised sport.  It is rampant in the entertainment industry but we would not like to see this in organised sport. Photographers are news gatherers.  It is important for Press Commission members to remind their representatives of this.

Minutes, IOC Press Commission. Nov 2005

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“Still photographers are news gatherers and their photographs are to be considered and treated as news.”

IOC Position

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“still photographic editorial purposes only”

IOC Photographer’s Undertaking

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“Still photographic pictures can be published for editorial purposes, provided such pictures are not reproduced in a sequential manner, so as to simulate, in any way, moving images.”

IOC Internet Guidelines for the Written Press and other Non-Rights Holding Media, 2008

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The IOC and … Editorial Independence

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The free and independent coverage of the Games and related activities by the media is enshrined within numerous IOC documents and agreements

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“Nothing contained within these guidelines is intended as limiting either the freedom of the media to provide and independent news and pictorial coverage of the Olympic Games and related events or the editorial independence of the material photographed and published by the media on their websites.”

IOC Internet Guidelines for the Written Press and other Non-Rights Holding Media, 2008

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“The provision of press facilities and services is unconditional and the freedom of the accredited press is absolute, within the provisions of the Olympic Charter and the Host City Contract.”

IOC Technical Manual on Media

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“Olympic News Service (ONS) news will be presented without bias or favour and will be independent of all external influence.”

IOC Technical Manual on Media

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The IOC and … Television News Access

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“The IOC takes all necessary steps in order to ensure the fullest coverage by the different media and the widest possible audience in the world for the Olympic Games.”

Olympic Charter Rule 53

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“To protect the rights of the Rights Holding Broadcasters, but to also respect the requirements of the Olympic Charter regarding the “fullest coverage by the different media and the widest possible audience in the world for the Olympic Games”, the IOC recognises the need for news organisations to have limited access to Olympic Material, for news purposes, in accordance with these News Access Rules.”

IOC Technical Manual on Media & IOC News Access Rules

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“Olympic Material may be used only as a part of regularly scheduled daily news programmes of which the actual news element constitutes the main feature “programmes”. Programmes shall not be positioned or promoted as Olympic programmes.”

IOC News Access Rules

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The IOC and … …….. and new(s) frontiers

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…….. the Internet

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anthony.edgar@olympic.org