The International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to stage morning finals
in the swimming events at the 2008 Beijing Games has drawn a mixed but mostly
hostile response from around the world.
The swimming federations of China, Britain and Australia have criticised the
move but the United States said it supported the change because the finals would
be broadcast in their prime-time period.
"This is a great opportunity for our sport to be showcased to the nearly one
billion people in the potential television audience of the Americas during the
first nine days of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing," USA Swimming's executive
director Chuck Wielgus said in a statement.
"The live prime-time exposure is something that can only benefit the sport of
swimming, and enhance the public profile of our sport's top athletes."
China's head swimming coach Zhang Yadong said the host nation would be
unfairly disadvantaged by the decision which went against the spirit of fair
play.
"It will be an unfair competition," Zhang said in a statement. "I don't see
how the Olympic spirit can be seen in this decision, I doubt it is.
"Next year we'll have to reschedule all the domestic tournaments to match the
time of the Olympic finals.
"We'll have to gradually move the wake-up time of our swimmers back to 6:30
am and start training at 8:30. As the decision won't be changed, this is the
only thing we can do.
BIG ADVANTAGE
"The European and American swimmers, in particular the Americans, will have a
big advantage."
British Swimming officials also slammed the move, with chief executive David
Sparkes and national performance director Bill Sweetenham voicing their
opposition.
"We're really disappointed by the IOC's decision," Sparkes said. "It's
clearly one the IOC may come to regret in time."
"Commonsense sometimes doesn't prevail but whatever the conditions we have a
group of athletes and coaches that can meet them head on," added Sweetenham.
Australia's head coach Alan Thompson said he was angry that the athletes'
interest had not been considered but had told his s swimmers there was nothing
they could do about it expect prepare the best they could.
"The only thing that gets me cranky is that (the IOC) have made the decision
for commercial reasons, not for the good of the sport," he told reporters.
Thompson said the Australians had been expecting the announcement and had
already been talking with sports scientists about the best ways to maximise
performance in the morning.
"It's about motivation too and your ability to adapt to change, and the best
performers are going to always be able to do that," he said.
"And certainly the motivation for an athlete swimming in the final at an
Olympic games will certainly get the arousal levels up, whether it's morning or
afternoon."
