Australian athletes competing at the this year’s Olympic Games are being encouraged to stay in touch with their fans by using Facebook and Twitter.

But Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) chef de mission Nick Green has warned there are rules for using the social networking websites.

“I personally don’t want to spend my time answering to every single athlete’s Facebook or tweet or comment around various things,” he told reporters at an AOC meeting in Sydney on Saturday.

“What’s important is we allow the athletes to do it.

“It’s a wonderful communication medium and we want the athletes to tweet or Facebook responsibly.”

Green said athletes would be encouraged to “tell their story” during the Games.

But competitors will be banned from posting video footage from inside Olympic venues on the web.

Mr Green also warned Australian athletes to behave generally in London.

“We have a melting pot of approximately 750 people from the Australian team at various levels,” he added.

“When athletes sign on to an Olympic team they sign on to a code of behaviour.”