"British Swimming bosses have hit out at the International Olympic Committee for switching swimming finals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics to the morning.
The move is a partial concession to American network NBC, who wanted events moved to suit its audience.
Chief executive David Sparkes said: "We're very disappointed - it's clearly a decision the IOC may come to regret."
National performance director Bill Sweetenham added: "Common sense sometimes doesn't prevail." "
([url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/6086814.stm[/url])
So it looks like people watching television are (or rather: advertising income is) more important for the IOC than the preferences/needs of the athletes at the Olympics.
Where is this getting us? Tele-voting for the winner of the 100m sprint? Please let the athletes have their olympics at which [i]they[/i] can excel. Real fans will watch the finals in the middle of the night if they have to...
The move is a partial concession to American network NBC, who wanted events moved to suit its audience.
Chief executive David Sparkes said: "We're very disappointed - it's clearly a decision the IOC may come to regret."
National performance director Bill Sweetenham added: "Common sense sometimes doesn't prevail." "
([url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/6086814.stm[/url])
So it looks like people watching television are (or rather: advertising income is) more important for the IOC than the preferences/needs of the athletes at the Olympics.
Where is this getting us? Tele-voting for the winner of the 100m sprint? Please let the athletes have their olympics at which [i]they[/i] can excel. Real fans will watch the finals in the middle of the night if they have to...