Olympic Media Coverage

The 2012 Olympics in Beijing supported more than 25,000 journalists of various languages.  Censorship was a major factor in hosting these game.  Journalists needed to have a visa and credential to gain access to the lavish media center.  A major issue of hosting in this country was the censorship that would be enforced by the government.  Because there was such a rigorous process to gain access independent and and smaller media outlets were not able to afford, or obtain the necessary documentation to get to Beijing in order to cover the games.  Despite this lavish media center there was still issues Olympic officials later admitted that that the only uncensored websites that journalists had access to were Olympic related.  From my understanding the orginal deal was that there would be no restrictions for their reporting.  After doing some additional reading it was also suggested that the internet was very slow, possibly in an effort to discourage people from using it all together.  As a journalists I could imagine the frustration in trying to quickly post stories or highlight events that were taking place.

 This year the Olympics are preparing for the games in London.  With all of the technological changes there are a number of variable to consider in hosting this event.  Needless to say, times have changes, and the Olympics seem to be face with a number of challenges that could potentially take the event from international status that it once had.  There was a point when these games symbolized peace and the joining of various cultures and nations.  I think one of the biggest challenges is keeping the authenticity of the event as time goes on.  Viewers used to tune in with the intentions of watching various countrys participate in a specific sport.  Given all of the available television channels with dish and satellite tv access to these types of competitions have become a dime a dozen.  Because there are so many championships that are seen over time (example: the World Series, World Cup) it takes away from the desire to see another "championship" deemed event.  Not to say that people will not watch, but the motivation and desire may be lower in this case.

Another huge challenge for the games is balancing the amount of power the given to sponsors and the influence of television.  Between television rights, player endorsements, sponsors of the games, and those that pretend to be associated using every thing but the likeness of the logo to generate revenue.  An issue in the past was the amount of commercials that happened during the opening ceremonies.  The essence of the ceremony is lost when there are commercials every few minutes.  Despite efforts to remain clean and have no advertising during the actual events there is really no way around it.  In countries that use broadcast systems its harder to identify the format and commercial decor that is in the broadcasting.  Its clear that corporations have become dictators when it comes to global advertising.  Corporate logo placement and use, endorsements, merchandising, and promotions have become a huge part of these modernized Olympic Games, that were once never really an issue.  As this the revenue side of marketing the Olympics continues to trickle down it effects the performance of those participating.  Big money endorsement go to those that are at the top of their game.  I honestly believe this is one of the reasons that performance enhancers have made their way into the games.  A way of securing addition income has tainted the image of the international event as well as the participant.  But again that driving factor become dollars signs which is not what the games were founded on.