The European Broadcasting Union has formally protested the IOC's decision to
hold some Olympic swimming and gymnastic finals in the morning during the 2008
Beijing Games.
The International Olympic Committee announced the changes last week in a
concession to U.S. broadcaster NBC, but the EBU said the timing of the finals
will put them in the middle of the night in Europe.
"With this decision the IOC ends the tradition of staging these finals in the
evening irrespective of the time zone at the venue," said the EBU, which
represents public service broadcasters in Europe and neighboring regions.
The EBU said it told the IOC that the decision meant "viewers in Europe as
well as the vast majority of the global TV audience will be disadvantaged."
The events will be staged during prime viewing hours in the Americas.
The EBU describes itself as the largest professional association of national
broadcasters in the world, with 74 active members in 54 countries of Europe,
North Africa and the Middle East, and 44 associate members in 25 other
countries. It negotiates broadcasting rights for major sports events on behalf
of its members and operates the Eurovision and Euroradio networks.
