Broadband is not yet ready. Pound made the comments at the closing of the IOC world conference on sports and new media in Laussane, Switzerland, the IOC's hometown. Pound said Olympic organizers would continue to experiment with broadband Olympic broadcasts. However, the IOC has decided to hold its Internet rights hostage until Web sites can demonstrate the ability to confine their Webcasts to specific geographic areas. That decision means that any decision to allow even the simplest video highlights over the Web will likely remain in limbo until the 2010 Winter Games.
Broadcasting rights are a major source of revenue for the Olympic movement.
TV rights for other regions of the world have also already been signed through that date. Internet media operators complained bitterly about lack of access to the Sydney Games. An IOC spokeswoman said officials are considering accrediting some Web journalists to cover the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. Live Webcasts, however, would be unlikely, she said. Rick Perera writes for the IDG News Service.