Following numerous reports that China has imposed restrictions on foreign news media
that will impede -- if not prevent -- their coverage of the Olympic Games, officials
of the International Olympic Committee charged with coordinating TV, radio and press c
overage have begun talks with members of China's organizing committee seeking assurances
that broadcasters will have unfettered access to sites in Beijing. The Associated
Press on Monday quoted IOC member Kevan Gosper as saying that "some progress" had
been made, "but I can't say we are there yet." Chinese officials are apparently concerned
that opponents of their country's policies regarding Tibet and Darfur may attempt
to stage demonstrations in Beijing during the games in hopes of attracting the attent
ion of the world's news media. Gosper, who is chairman of the IOC press commission,
told the AP that he has made it plain to Chinese organizers that journalists must
"have the ability of filing live without any censorship." But Kevin Fleck, China
manager of Sydney-based Global Vision Networks, a satellite service provider that has contracted
to provide satellite feeds for local stations all over the world, told the wire service
that he has run into bureaucratic roadblocks. He said he worries that reporters are going
to try to get "on the morning show back home and they're not going to be able to
do it. And they are going to be angry."
17/06/2008
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