Athletes competing in the 2012 Olympics have been encouraged to share their experiences across social media channels, the Olympic Committee has said. There are of course a few ground rules, one of which is steering clear of foul language or profanities (as you’d expect) and trying to report in the style of journalists. Nevertheless this is a big step forward from Beijing in 2008 whereby uploading photos of any kind were prohibited.
The NBA has adopted a similar relaxed approach to players and athletes using social media. For example, when Shaquille O’Neal retired from basketball, he announced it via a video posted on his Twitter profile, ensuring his loyal following party found out before even the NBA.
I think athletes should exercise the right to use these channels to communicate with their fans, and should not be banned or restricted in doing so. The NBA have really embraced social media, and claim ‘authenticity’ behind their reasoning for a more relaxed approach. However, athletes should obviously act in a responsible manner, as in many cases they will be role models to a wider audience and may find their actions damaging to a brand/club or sponsorship deal. For this reason, senior executives at the NBA receive a daily email, to ensure their players are playing fairly!
