Olympic Committee grants web media accreditation
The International Olympic Committee has agreed to issue accreditation to web-based news media to cover the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
The move comes after officials were criticised for not extending authorised access to internet-only companies during the Sydney Games.
Web executives have hailed the decision as recognition of the growing importance of the internet.
Olympic officials in Lausanne, Switzerland, did not provide a full list of the companies in question, but they are thought to include media from around the world.
The accreditations do not include the right to stream live video of events or to interview athletes at official venues.
But Gavin Chittick, chief financial offer for Sports.com, said on the ground access would allow for "much more creditable, much more authoritative coverage".
