A Web site created by the Australian Olympic Committee
(AOC) and host broadcaster Channel 7, www.olympics.com.au,
is in competition with SOCOG/IBM's 2000 Games official Web
site, www.olympics.com, and "has the potential to inflame
tensions" between the AOC and SOCOG, according to Roy
Masters of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The AOC-Seven Network
venture is "planned as a model to create a global network of
national Olympic committees and host broadcasters acting
jointly as internet providers." But SOCOG Deputy CEO
Michael Eyers said that the "rebel site risked action for
ambush marketing." Eyers: "It's up to the AOC to make sure
it doesn't infringe on the rights of the Olympic site.
We'll be watching it to make sure it doesn't. ... If it gets
into the territory of the official site and promotes itself
as the only place where people can get up-to-the-minute
results on the web, that would be very naughty." But AOC
Secretary General Craig McLatchey "insisted" the AOC-Seven
site was "oriented towards coverage" of the Australian
Olympic team, while the SOCOG-IBM site would "provide
detailed Games information, such as immediate results."
McLatchey: "Our focus is not their focus. ... Our site is
the only one where an internet user can get in behind the
Australian team." McLatchey said that the AOC-Seven deal
was a "long term project" and the "first block in building a
worldwide web of NOCs" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 7/19).
