This led to athletes, including Bright, one of Australia's biggest hopes for a medal in Sochi, claiming they plan to protest the ban as it violates their right to use such devices as found in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.

But in response to this criticism, Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman has clarified the restrictions and insisted there is no "blanket ban".

"On the contrary, Australian athletes are encouraged to use social media, but urged to use it responsibly," he said in a statement. 

"The only restriction applies to the use of social media inside each athlete's training and competition venue."

Ian Chesterman has clarified the nature of the social media ban following criticism ©Getty Images

Chesterman said the restrictions were designed to help athletes "focus 100 per cent on their event", and athletes and coaches were free to use social media at all other times while in Russia.

"In the 408-hour period of the Sochi Games, athletes, on average, will be restricted by about 14 where they can´t tweet - the other 394 hours they are free to tweet as much as they want," the statement continued. 

He claimed that the ban "doesn't seem that restrictive" and is "based on best-practice models of some of our most successful Olympians".

While admitting "Australia's winter athletes are among some of the most social media savvy in the world and sports fans look forward to what they will be sharing during Sochi," he concluded by insisting their "first objective is on the field of play".

The new rules come after Australia's poor showing at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where athletes' use of social media was widespread.

Australia was involved in several unsavoury incidents involving alcohol as well as social media, with the swim team receiving particular criticism and rower Josh Booth being arrested for drunk and disorderly behaviour.

In November, an alcohol ban was introduced for both Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016, with athletes facing being sent home from Olympics if found "swaying, staggering or having rambling conversations", and travel restrictions have been placed on their movements around Sochi.

However, given the reaction of the likes of Bright, the latest ban may have been a step too far. 

Torah Bright makes her criticism known...via the means that will be partially banned in Sochi ©Twitter


The 27-year-old also told The Australian only she would control how she used social media.

"Let me enjoy the sport of snowboarding and share it with the world," she said.

"I care not for the trivial policies of an organisation that comes into my sport once every four years.

"Freedom of choice and speech are humanity's greatest gifts - I am the master of my social media - I am captain of my voice."

Another snowboarder in Scott James, Australia's youngest male Olympian for 50 years when he competed aged 15 at Vancouver 2010, reacted in a similarly disappointed manner.

In a Twitter message he wrote: "No social media, no partying and no personal devices allowed at the Winter Olympics for Aus team - cheers Australian swim team..."

British diver Tom Daley was subject to abusive Twitter messages during the London 2012 Olympic Games...which led to arrests being made ©Getty Images

The London 2012 Summer Olympics were dubbed the first "social media Games", however there were a number of incidents that highlighted the negative points of the practice.

British diver Tom Daley received a malicious tweet saying he had let down his father Rob, who died in 2011 from cancer, after coming fourth in the men's synchronised 10 metres platform event at the Games, while Greek triple jumper Paraskevi Papachristou was sent home by the Hellenic Olympic Committee after tweeting a racist joke.

However, social media also produced numerous positive moments, and encouraged increased interaction between athletes and fans, and it is this that athletes such as Bright appear so keen to protect.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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