LONDON (Reuters) - Olympic boxing's governing body said it had asked London Games' organizers to tell American broadcaster NBC to cease its ringside commentary at the boxing arena on Friday because they were disrupting officials.
NBC, a unit of Comcast Corp, was the only broadcaster allowed to commentate from the ringside floor and the International Boxing Association (AIBA) said they disturbed officials sitting next to them throughout the competition.
It recommended to the London organizing committee (LOCOG) that NBC's commentary team leave their position. They were offered a space with the other media but decided to leave instead, AIBA said.
"NBC commentators were offered a booth in the media tribune like other broadcasters because they were very disturbing for AIBA officials - even during bouts they were not broadcasting - being located at the edge of the Field of Play," an AIBA spokesman said in an emailed statement to Reuters.
"They claimed that since no boxers from the USA were still in the running, they didn't want to stay anyway."
NBC could not immediately be reached for comment.
GREAT IDEA - I wish they would tell most of them to just "SHUT UP" let us see more of the events, realize that there are other countries involved, and take all the "celebrity announcers," put them on the Titanic and send them home. For four years, I have hoped I would live long enough to see these games. WHY did they pack up all those "celebs" and take them to London? Why not talk with the athletes? All that chatter has ruined the games for me. After all, it is THE OLYMPICS, not a television show. What, yes, I guess you are right, EVERYTHING is now a television show .... commercials interrupted by announcers and sporting events, don't forget the retired athletes who offer their "expertise."
