Dear NBS Sports Producers, The International System of measurement (SI, or the modern metric system) is either the primary, or the preferred, system of measurement for all nations. Although Congress has declared metric to be only the preferred (and not the primary) system of measurement for U.S. commerce, even U.S. units are legally defined by the metric system. During your coverage of the Olympic Games, which are conducted only in metric units, you have given U.S. audiences the false impression that the metric system does not exist; this you have done by converting the exclusively metric competition results to U.S. customary units for U.S. broadcasts. For example, a women's shot put event result was 19 m, but your on-screen display showed it in feet and inches. Please join in the spirit of the Olympic movement by ending this practice and reporting the units as they stand in the games. If nothing else, measurement is best understood when only one system of measurement is used.
Thank you very much for your kind attention. Sincerely, Paul Trusten, R.Ph. Public Relations Director U.S. Metric Association (USMA), Inc. www.metric.org 3609 Caldera Blvd., Apt. 122 Midland TX 79707-2872 US +1(432)528-7724 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
