Aussie Winter Olympians upset with bans

Several Australian Winter Olympians have suggested they could revolt against social media and partying restrictions placed on them by the AOC.

torah_bright_aap.jpg

Torah Bright. (AAP)

The Australian Olympic Committee could be headed for a showdown with several Australian athletes who've suggested they'll buck social media and partying restrictions placed on the them at the upcoming Winter Olympics.

With security issues front and centre following two apparent terrorist attacks in Russia, the AOC has said it will confine athletes to village areas at the Games.

But it's the social media restrictions, including a blanket ban on tweeting from the team bus, that have earned the ire of some prominent Australian athletes.

Those guidelines largely came off the back of the Australian swimming team's sub-par performance at the London Olympics, some members of that group claiming social media had distracted them to the point of affecting their results.

Snowboarder Scotty James tweeted his concerns about the guidelines for Sochi, prompting a pointed response from Vancouver gold medal winner Torah Bright and compatriot Belle Brockoff.

"No social media, no partying and no personal devices allowed at the Winter Olympics for Aus team. Cheers Australian swim team ..." James, who is going to his second Games, tweeted.

"good one! I'll be breaking a few rules this time round!," Bright replied. "ditto" added Brockhoff.

Bright has already expressed her concern about even going to the Games, saying if there were more attacks in Russia she would likely pull out.

She also said the excesses of the Games made her "sick".

Openly lesbian snowboarder Brockhoff has been front and centre because of her outspoken comments on Russia's anti-gay propaganda laws.

Despite the comments, Australian Games chef de mission Ian Chesterman said he expected all athletes would follow the guidelines when the time came.

"I've spoken to every athlete and made it clear what our rules are. The response back has been a very sensible one," he said.

"It's not a blanket ban on social media ... it's while they are training and preparing for competition which seems pretty reasonable to me."

He described the comments of James, Bright and Brockhoff as "good social media commentary".

"But I expect the athletes to adhere to the rules as they have had to at every Games."

Meanwhile Australian freestyle skier Amy Sheehan claimed a career-best bronze medal at the halfpipe World Cup event in Calgary on Friday.

Sheehan's first-run 79.20 was enough to secure her third, behind Switzerland's Virginie Faivre (79.80) and 18-year-old Rowan Cheshire (80.40).

Australian Davina Williams also competed in the final of the halfpipe World Cup round in Calgary and finished ninth with a score of 68.20. The surprise result pitches Sheehan into a growing list of Australians that could contend for medals in Sochi.


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Source: AAP


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