Reply #9: Reuters: IOC admits Internet censorship deal with China [View All]

IOC admits Internet censorship deal with China
Wed Jul 30, 2008 10:41am EDT

By Nick Mulvenney

BEIJING (Reuters) - Some International Olympic
Committee officials cut a deal to let China block
sensitive websites despite promises of unrestricted
access, a senior IOC official admitted on Wednesday.

Persistent pollution fears and China's concerns
about security in Tibet also remained problems for
organizers nine days before the Games begin.

China had committed to providing media with the
same freedom to report on the Games as they enjoyed
at previous Olympics, but journalists have this
week complained of finding access to sites deemed
sensitive to its communist leadership blocked.

-snip-

"I also now understand that some IOC officials
negotiated with the Chinese that some sensitive
sites would be blocked on the basis they were
not considered Games related," he said.

-snip-