London's local media left cold by Olympic press allocations
While having breakfast last week I was leafing through a copy of my local weekly paper, the Wimbledon Guardian. I've read this paper since I was about 10, my mate used to deliver it and I did some work experience there a very long time ago.
One story in particular caught my eye, a full page dedicated to how the paper had been refused a press pass for the Olympics. And not just the Wimbledon Guardian but it seems many more across South London.
The story on their website has editor Richard Firth lamenting:
This was supposed to be the ultimate local event, but the local media have received a collective slap in the face.
The BOA says it received thousands of accreditation applications from all over the world but we believe the local media should be allowed in to cover the Games from a local perspective. It seems they'll have to rely on syndicated Press Association content, and watch on TV when a local competitor is playing - the Wimbledon Guardian lays claim to Laura Robson (future British female tennis star).
Personally, I think it's a crying shame that the BOA couldn't find room for at least a pooled pass for a few local reporters from London. While I understand the pressures they are under for giant allocations for BBC, Sky etc, not to mention the sport media, it is often the small, local, stories which can have the biggest impact in showing how successful the games have been - in the eyes of local people anyway. It's the local schools in the opening ceremony, the volunteers in the clay pigeon shooting and the unexpected youngster from Tooting who suddenly has a shot at a medal - these are the local stories of the Games.
It's a given that there will be complaints about parking, the general busy-ness of the capital during that time and strain on local council resources but to shut out the media serving those communities most likely to be affected by the Games seems a daft decision. I wish the Wimbledon Guardian and other local media all the best with their efforts to appeal the decision.
It will only add to the feeling a lot of local people are starting to have about the Olympics, "we're on the outside, looking in..."
Image credit to Jeff Van Campen