There is no “blanket ban” on Australian athletes using social media at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

On the contrary, Australian athletes are encouraged to use social media, but urged to use it responsibly. 

The only restriction applies to the use of social media inside each athlete’s training and competition venue. This restriction is designed to help each athlete, and those around them, focus 100% on their event. 

Athletes and their coaches are free to use social media at all other times. 

In the 408 hour period of the Sochi Games athletes, on average, will be restricted by about 14 where they can't tweet. The other 394 hours they are free to tweet as much as they want. 

It doesn't seem that restrictive to me and is based on best-practice models of some of our most successful Olympians. 

Australia’s winter athletes are among some of the most social media savvy in the world. Sports fans look forward to what they will be sharing during Sochi. But their first objective is on the field of play. 

Ian Chesterman

2014 Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission