By Phil Harlow

We've been used to swimming finals in the evening - that's when world records are broken Britains Commonwealth silver medalist Darren Mew

Britain's Darren Mew says switching the 2008 Olympic swimming finals to accommodate US television audiences has left many athletes disillusioned.

The decision to move the finals from the evening to the morning was made at the insistence of US broadcaster NBC.

"A lot of swimmers feel it has taken away from the Olympic ideal of putting athletes first," Mew told BBC Sport.

"Now it seems to be all about NBC and it is a shame. Ultimately, the Olympics is a commercial business now."

The Commonwealth silver medallist said the switch was likely to result in slower times.

"For many years we've been used to swimming finals in the evening - that's when world records are broken and best performances are swum," said Britain's 100m breaststroke record holder.

"Even with that information they still decided to move it to morning finals but we're all in the same boat and we have to get on with it.

"But with the Olympics less than two years away it's fairly short notice. They should have decided straight after Athens - at least we would have had longer to prepare then."

But Mew insisted he and his Team GB team-mates would do their utmost to make the best of the situation, and pointed out that he had been getting up early for several years.

Mew is seen as a medal prospect for the Beijing Olympics

"I would prefer it to be in the evening, that's what I've done and been used to since I was eight years old.

"There's going to be some very quick trial and error going on to find out what will be the best solution to the problem."

Mew explained the problems of racing in the morning for swimmers.

"Racing in the evening gives your body a lot longer to wake up," he said.

"Your body is more alert in the evening, you can digest food properly and eat when you want to.