Yet another example of the power of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This week the organisers of the Sydney Olympics announced that they are taking steps to provide an extra hour of daylight in New South Wales during the Games. Clocks will be moved forward on August 27th, rather than the last weekend in October as is usual. All this because the Sydney bid team made a commitment to the IOC to do so in 1993.

But the Australian farmers were quick to protest. "Like most Australians, rural people are proud that Sydney is hosting the 2000 Olympics," said New South Wales farmers' representative Xavier Martin. "However, this extension of daylight saving is a severe imposition on rural people, most of whom will get nowhere near the Games.

"Country children will not only wake in the dark but will be waiting for school buses in the pitch dark at the coldest time of the year, all to make the travel arrangements easier for a small number of Olympic Games' patrons."

Is there any end to the list of perks with IOC membership?