If you don’t believe money rules at the Olympics, check out why powerhouse Australian swimmers have their Speedos in a knot over the upcoming Beijing Games.
The International Olympic Committee ruled last week that the finals for swimming events will be held in the morning Beijing time. That lets NBC air the high-profile finals on evening prime-time television in the East Coast of the United States, which is 12 hours behind. The live broadcasts will be better for NBC’s ratings.
Traditionally, swimmers swim morning heats and evening finals. It’s been that way for decades.
Aussie swimmers complain that 2008 Beijing Olympics competition will suffer. Swimmers can’t wolf down breakfast and swim their best, they say.
Grant Hackett and Ian Thorpe, two of Australia’s biggest name swimmers, signed a letter along with some European stars complaining that the Games should consider the interests of the athletes, not just the broadcasters.
“We believe, based on competition experience, that we can swim faster at night,” the letter said, according to the Herald Sun, an Australian paper.
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