Olympics Bans Social Media Posts by Journalists

Will lose accreditation and get booted

Journalists who use amateur-standard technology to take photos or videos of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics will be kicked out immediately, the editor of Russia's state sports news agency, which is part of the Olympic accreditation committee, has reportedly said.

Vasily Konov, editor of RIA Novosti subsidiary R-Sport, told a seminar for sports journalists on Friday that print reporters using any sort of multimedia would be "considered a serious violation and lead to their accreditation being canceled," multiple Russian outlets reported. Only journalists with professional equipment and special badges will be allowed to do so.

"Organizers won't be able to have any effect on normal spectators, but supporters will be banned from bringing reflex cameras and nonprofessional equipment to the competitions," Konov added.