IOC concedes to China over web censorship

Journalists will be blocked from accessing certain websites during the Games

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has come under fire after caving in to Chinese officials over censorship of the internet during the upcoming Beijing Olympics.

According to press reports, IOC representatives conceded to censorship on " sensitive sites" on the ground that they were not related to the Games, which begins on 8 August.

"I regret it now appears that the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad has announced limitations on website access during Games time," said Kevin Gosper, chairman of the IOC's press commission.

Human rights organisations have been quick to respond to the announcement.

Mark Allison, East Asia researcher at Amnesty International, demanded that the IOC and the Beijing Organizing Committee fulfil their commitment to freedom of the press and provide "immediate uncensored internet access" at Olympic media venues.

"Censorship of the internet at the Games is compromising fundamental human rights and betraying Olympic values," he said.

Journalists this week were blocked from accessing certain sites, including Amnesty International's, which released a report on Monday.

The blocks come despite previous commitments from China to provide media outlets with the same freedoms afforded to journalists at the last Olympic Games.

Amnesty said in a statement that the continued blocking of some websites would "reflect very poorly" on the hosts.