Chinese authorities have unblocked websites for journalists covering the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Photo credit: Xinhua.

Following complaints from journalists covering the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Chinese authorities have lifted some more bans on previously blocked websites such as the BBC and Amnesty International.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has held discussions with the organisers of the Games – the Beijing Organising Committee (BOCOG) – on the difficulties experienced this week in accessing some websites (read ICM article here), and announced today that the issues are quickly being resolved. 
 
The IOC reported today (1 August) in a statement that the media should be seeing a noticeable difference in accessibility to websites that they need to report on the Olympic Games.
 
It said that it has “always encouraged the Beijing 2008 organisers to provide media with the fullest access possible to report on the Games, including access to the internet, knowing this is important for them to do their job. This access has always been assured by BOCOG and the Chinese authorities and the IOC is pleased to see these are assurances being upheld.”
 
The issue arose as journalists started to arrive in Beijing to cover the Games, which begin on 8 August, and while they expected complete access to the internet, they found a number of sites – including those covering news and human rights – blocked.

Websites now obtainable include Amnesty International, the BBC’s Chinese Language Website, and other Chinese-language websites, such as Voice of America and Hong Kong newspaper Apple Daily.

Chinese President Hu Jintao today also gave a rare interview to a select group of foreign reporters, welcoming them to cover the Games.

He said: “Since Beijing won the bid for the Olympic Games on the 13th of July, 2001, the Chinese government and the Chinese people have been working in real earnest to honour the commitments made to the international community.

“We work vigorously to encourage the Chinese people to be gracious, courteous, warm, friendly and hospitable hosts for the Games.”

He did warn them, however, to abide by China’s laws and regulations. “We also hope you will provide objective and impartial coverage of what you see here so that your report can enhance the communication and understanding between Chinese people and people from other parts of the world.”