Journalists Protest Internet Fee at Commonwealth Games

Sports journalists from more than 100 countries have signed a petition protesting against the internet fee imposed by the organisers of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

In a press statement signed by Evelyn Watta, AIPS Executive Committee Member, Lausanne, they said that about 150 signatures were collected from journalists.

According to the statement, it was collected from 103 countries members who attended the

just-concluded 77th AIPS congress in Baku, Azerbaijan.

It said they supported calls by AIPS to the organisers to reconsider the decision to charge internet fees for journalists covering the event from July 23 to Aug. 3.

The petition was a follow-up to letters sent to the Chief Executive Officer, David Grevemberg, and a meeting between AIPS President Gianni Merlo and Scottish Sports Minister Shona Robinson over the issue.

The members of the AIPS, some of whom have been accredited for the Games register the strongest protest to the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee.

The statement questioned the restrictive policy for not providing free internet access for accredited media covering the Games.

In the statement, AIPS made it clear to the organisers that it was unacceptable to have the internet rate cards at the Games for a fee.

It maintained that it was a service that was provided for free at the Sochi Olympics and would also be offered at no cost at the World Cup in Brazil.