If you are planning to attend the 2014 Winter Olympics at Sochi, Russia, and intend to take selfies and post real-time tweets and videos on social networking sites, here is a dampener.
Russian sports officials have banned journalists from taking images and videos using non-professional devices like phones and tablets, including iPhones and iPads. Spectators might also be forbidden from bringing personal cameras and camcorders into the venue.
“The use of mobile phones by journalists who write for the filming of athletes or spectators will be considered a serious violation and will result in cancellation of accreditation,” Vasily Konov, head of the state-run R-Sport news agency said during a seminar, Russian media outlet ridus.ru reported.
Journalists will reportedly be allowed to use only professional equipment with tags that clearly mention if they are taking photos or videos.
While this ban has created a buzz among media persons and spectators, Konov has denied making any such statement and called the information a “monstrous lie.”
“Look at my Instagram from the London Games and draw your own conclusions,” Konov told BuzzFeed. “I’ve been going to the [Olympics] since 2000 and never had a problem like that once,” he told BuzzFeed.
International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams too slammed the reports and said that journalists and spectators are free to take as many pictures and videos as they want without any restrictions.
“Please take as many photos as you like!” Adams wrote in an email to USA Today. “Sharing pix on social media positively encouraged.”
