Nine banned from Olympics for 1 week

Despite news earlier today that the issue had been amicably resolved, the IOC has banned Channel Nine from official areas at the Olympics for the next seven days.

The ban follows a complaint filed by Channel Seven to the International Olympic Committee that Channel Nine’s reporter Damian Ryan and cameraman Howie Bennett had illegally shot footage inside the Water Cube aquatic centre.

While IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said late Tuesday night that the issue had been resolved between the parties, the IOC yesterday decided to impose the sanction.

In a letter written to Channel Nine Olympic director Gary Fenton, IOC legal advisor Howard Stupp said “the IOC takes this as a serious breach of the news access rules, that non rights holders are not permitted to access or operate, with equipment, within any Olympic venue”.

Reporter Ryan said he had apologised to the IOC over the inadvertent breach and that footage taken inside the venue had not been broadcast.

But the IOC said it also considered a breach committed by a Nine network cameraman at the Athens Olympic Games in deciding upon a ban.

Nine’s camera crew will remain in Beijing and be able to interview athletes and officials outside of official areas and the Olympic Green. The sanction will end at midnight next Wednesday, August 13.

Source: The Age