Olympic athletes to blog in 2008?

Want to know how "stoked" that Olympic gymnast feels right after he finishes his routine?

In the past, you'd have to wait for some official news organization to conduct an interview, but now, the International Olympic Committee is considering allowing athletes to blog.

Previously, athlete blogs weren't permitted, though it's not entirely clear why. Perhaps, as the Associated Press reports, it's because the committee wanted to preserve the right of the "real" media to inform the world about how "stoked" the athletes are. Or how proud they are to represent their country. Or how they'd say, "Hi, Mom."

Well, we can all hope that the committee does change its rules and give Olympians the right to express themselves to the world. After all, what's more in the spirit of participation and brotherly love than being able to share what you're thinking?

Of course, the committee is still concerned, as the AP wrote, that the Olympic Games would become like a "Big Brother" reality TV show. And let's hope that it doesn't. We want the real juice on what it's like to outwit, outlast and outplay. But, er, maybe not.

Anyway, under the proposed rules--which are still under consideration--Olympians would be able to blog, as long as they do so for free and in a personal fashion, a la a diary.