The European Broadcasting Union has formally protested the IOC's decision to hold some Olympic swimming and gymnastic finals in the morning during the 2008 Beijing Games.

The International Olympic Committee announced the changes last week in a concession to U.S. broadcaster NBC, but the EBU said the timing of the finals will put them in the middle of the night in Europe.

"With this decision the IOC ends the tradition of staging these finals in the evening irrespective of the time zone at the venue," said the EBU, which represents public service broadcasters in Europe and neighboring regions.

The EBU said it told the IOC that the decision meant "viewers in Europe as well as the vast majority of the global TV audience will be disadvantaged."

The events will be staged during prime viewing hours in the Americas.

The EBU describes itself as the largest professional association of national broadcasters in the world, with 74 active members in 54 countries of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, and 44 associate members in 25 other countries. It negotiates broadcasting rights for major sports events on behalf of its members and operates the Eurovision and Euroradio networks.