TomballLegend Loc: Tomball, Texas

Think he was five feet tall---what yu see is what you got!

Georgews Loc: Wellington, New Zealand

One way round it would be a bridge camera with a 30+ times zoom

TomballLegend Loc: Tomball, Texas

What's that have to do with a 5' tall weight lifter? Thanks anyway!

rowandjr Loc: New Jersey

Perhaps it is time for 4 3rds and bridge cameras to shine.

fototaker27 Loc: Dumfries & Galloway Scotland

I am a front of stage photographer. As far as i'm concerned the general public are welcome to use whatever camera lens configuration they wish. I can't understand these rules, I personally, have never been asked if it bothers me that the general public are using pro gear. As far as I can see the venues make these rules not the pro photographers. Sure their will be a certain number of pros who will object to the public at a particular venue using DSLR equipment. All I can say is those photographers either have no belief in their own ability, or they may be paps working for one of the large picture agencies, who are paying a large fee to be at the venue. In any case the father in question can have as much pro equipment as he likes. What he cannot get from the stands is the intimate picture of his daughter Looking directly into my lens with a huge smile that my close proximity gives me. That's why I can sell my pictures without any problems. A real pro should never fear an amateur at a venue. In fact I have had them come up to me and ask what my settings were, and could I help with their camera set up, I always oblige, it makes me feel good to be of some help.

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

If I'm not mistaken, NBC and most newspapers would freely give any Olympic competitor's parent photos of their kids. It’s a very good chance the photo/video would be far better composed too.
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One thing I don't understand is:

If you witnessed the opening ceremonies, about ½ to ¾ of the competitors walking in were all recording and shooting “things” with a myriad of P&S cameras. Most of the cameras were probably just something the people had.

Why doesn't a major camera manufacture give free,(and approved by the event), P&S cameras to all entries from whatever country they choose?

It sure would look good and the manufacture would have some pretty good bragging rights!

Peekayoh Loc: UK

I think I know the answer to that one.

There are 10,960 athletes participating in the London Olympics, 6098 men and 4862 women from 205 countries.

oldmalky Loc: West Midlands,England.

Cameras and zoom lens were allowed at the Grand Prix at Silverstone, my friend hired a 400mm for his alpha a55 and brought back some great shots of both the practice sessions and the race itself.So not all top sporting events ban cameras with zooms.

GENorkus Loc: Washington Twp, Michigan

I wasn't thinking about all the countries, but they could cover a continent or zero in on a few countries.

Many of the 1st world countries have a good marketing stratigy already. (Besides, Mom & Dad would just buy one not thinking much about the cost anyway.)

If a mfg. would offer cameras to a smaller country, (one that is lower on their market scale), that could be a pretty good stratigy and a relitively cheap thing to do if it was capitolized on.

Just a thought!