Olympic officials warn China on Net access

Inspectors for the International Olympic Committee are reminding China of its obligation to provide open Internet access to journalists attending this summer's games, according to a BBC news report.

The Olympic torch, designed by Chinese PC maker Lenovo, is now alit and en route to the Summer Olympics.

(Credit: Lenovo)

China, which will host the Olympic Games in Beijing in August, has a reputation of restricting Internet access to various Web sites, such as YouTube, which recently has served up video clips of unrest in Tibet, and to foreign news sites.

But under its contract with the International Olympic Committee, China is required to provide journalists with Internet access, according to the BBC report. The IOC expressed concern over China's Internet access, particularly following last month's protests over its handling of matters related to Tibet.

The unrest in Tibet, covered by a variety of news organizations, has led to calls to boycott the Olympic Games, according to a report in Associated Press.

"There was some criticism that the Internet closed down during events relating to Tibet in previous weeks--but this is not Games time," Kevan Gosper of the IOC told the BBC. "Our concern is that the press is able to operate as it has at previous Games during Games time."

[rcrusoe]

China must be shaking in their boots

I'm sure a country famous for murdering it's own citizens when
they protest against it would be terrified to get a "tongue lashing"
from some wussy agency like the IOC.

[sup909]

Agreed: We are too far in now

Agreed, what is the IOC really going to do. We are way too far in at this point for them to cancel the games and most country's I think also have their atheltes alredy committed to pull them out.

[therobsweeps]

China may not be afraid of IOC

China may not be afraid of IOC but they are in a terrible spot to be in for an oppressive government. The Olympic games are China's chance to prove to the world that they are a player on the world stage. There are billions of dollars at stake and the prestige of being the 'home of the Olympics'. This could be a nightmare for China. They have the protests in Tibet, they are turning tens of thousands of their own people into homeless refugees so that they can tear down their homes to build hotels, restaurants, and facilities for the press, staff, athlete's and tourist's. Put all of this on top of the public relations nightmare that they had in '07 with the world recalling almost every toy made in China. Every person within a thousand miles will be trying to make their plights heard to the 'outside' world.

[alflanagan]

Gee, what a surprise

Why do we even pretend that China is a modern country? With an aristocracy of murderous thugs in charge of everything, we'll be lucky if the journalists get out alive.

[raf1298]

How untrue

From your statement my feeling is you know nothing of their political system nor their judical system.

[umbrae]

Get ready for protests...

Seems like to perfect time to protest in China will be during the Olympic.

[xmitman]

Let the games begin.......

China only understands how to lie with a straight face. I hope their
government falls flat on their faces as they try to censor every
which way they can. Such a beautiful country run by a pack of
thugs that are so scared to lose power. All their government knows
is greed and how to kill to stay in control. What a savage way to
live. No wonder the leadership doesn't believe in God. Without that
belief they have no one to answer to but themselves.

[raf1298]

A Time for common Sense

First I'd like to state I've been to Mainland China many times for both business and pleasure, so I can speak of first hand experiences. Yes there are things wrong but there are also many more things that have been made right. We all need to remember that this country 50 years ago was a mess and we (The United States) did nothing to help.
Now China wishes to be welcome into the world community by hosting the Olympics. If these so called demenstrators wanted to achive change then they need to get involved first hand. To me their attempt to disrupt the Olympics is just showing their own stupidness.

[raf1298]

Protestors need to get another life

After reading of the many attempts of the protestors in London to drag down the spirit of the Olympics I feel ashamed for them. To promote chaos is just not right and never will be right. To make the Olympics into a political statement is their aim but they will never be successful since most sane people can see right through them. I feel these days a protest is big business driven by only a few with an agenda and hiring a mass of people to drive it. I see it when I hear about the World Bank meetings and the chaos they is generated.

Richard in Chicago