IOC to let Beijing athletes blog

ATHENS, Greece, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- The International Olympic Committee says it officially will allow athletes competing in Beijing to write blogs if they are "dignified and in good taste."

The IOC guidelines -- the first regarding blogs -- were prompted by the increasing use of unofficial Internet blogs written by athletes in previous games, the BBC reported Saturday.

The guidelines ban the posting of audio or visual material from the games themselves and warn bloggers to obey copyright agreements.

"Blogs should be dignified and in good taste" said an IOC statement, noting the IOC considers blogging a "legitimate form of personal expression and not a form of journalism."

The IOC has been concerned that the Olympic games in Beijing this summer could become politicized by bloggers who criticize China's human rights record, the BBC reported.