Proposal for morning swim in Beijing draws fire
(AP)
Updated: 2006-06-22 08:48
A proposal to move the swimming finals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics from the
evening to morning hours so the races can be shown live in U.S. prime-time is
causing heated debate.
Swimmers dive into the
pool at the start of the men's 1500 metres freestyle at the 8th FINA World
Short Course Swimming Championships in Shanghai April 9, 2006.
[Reuters] |
The IOC executive board discussed the request by NBC on Wednesday during its
meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland. However, a final decision was put off until
later this year.
Australian swimmers, coaches and broadcasters oppose the proposal, while the
Americans seem resigned to such a switch.
"That's a very radical change," Mark Schubert, national team coach and
general manager for USA Swimming told The Associated Press this week. "We're
very anxiously awaiting the final schedule."
The move would showcase swimming for eight nights in U.S. prime-time, but it
would air at less desirable times in Europe, Asia and Australia.
Mike McCarley of NBC Sports didn't return repeated messages for comment.
Swimming Australia and Channel Seven, which holds Australian TV rights to the
games, have written letters opposing NBC's request for morning finals.
"This is about the integrity of the sport and allowing athletes to perform to
their maximum," Swimming Australia executive director Glenn Tasker told The
Australian newspaper. "To force this on them would be grossly unfair and would
produce a second-rate meet."
Australian Olympic Committee president John Coates met with International
Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge in Lausanne on Tuesday to voice his
opposition.
Coates said Rogge told him there would be no decision this week.
"He said the IOC would first consult with all the broadcasters and the
international federation," Coates said. "Our national federation is strongly
against and has written to FINA. Our national broadcaster has written to Rogge."
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