Gianni Merlo, the President of the AIPS, has complained that it is unfair to expect the media to pay for internet access at the Games and that it should be free.

But now Coe has defended the plan to offer packages costing £90 ($143/€104) per month for bronze, £130 ($207/€150) for silver and £150 ($239/€173) for gold. 

"We have made the conscious decision to not provide wifi as the basic modus operandi for media," said Coe, who addressed more 500 international journalists at the start of the third World Press Briefing at the Institute of Education here today. 

"All of our experts tell us, and most importantly the media tell us, that it is not reliable enough for the enormous volume of documents and data that are sent at the Olympic Games.

"We have therefore delivered a solution that the media themselves want. 

"In order to provide a robust infrastructure LOCOG has installed high speed internet cables at every working position in every venue work room and photo work room as well as every table in each tribune.

"We have even, for the first time, installed cables that will be able to be used in non tabled seating areas in each venue.

"This represents over 13,000 installations.


"I am told that in the past only the large international agencies had cabled access – they paid for a dedicated ADSL line at around $500-600 (£313-375/€360-431) per line.

"So all media at the London Games will have the ability to have access to cabled internet

"As an Olympic first as I understand, the entire Info+ service is available with the Gold package - anywhere you can connect, you can access the system. In media lounges and media conference rooms we have installed wifi, and this is also included within the same packages at no extra cost.

"As explained to me, there is also a 'myprint' solution provided whereby media can print remotely to any printer at the Games, free of charge.

"In accordance with the Olympic Charter, the rate card, through which these charges are made, is absolutely non profit making.

"Neither LOCOG nor BT are making any profit from these charges.

"Comparisons with single sport championships are not exactly appropriate as the level of complexity, concurrently running competition and volumes of data transfer to support at these events pale into comparison with the Olympic Games.

"Within the Olympic Games context, this is the first time that media are able to have, for one fee, cabled internet connectivity in all venues, the MPC (Main Press Centre) and the Olympic Village rather than ordering dedicated comms at each venue."

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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