Olympics Committee Admits Internet Censorship Deal With China

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...

...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.

"I regret that it now appears BOCOG has announced that there will be limitations on website access during Games time," IOC press chief Kevan Gosper said, referring to Beijing's Olympic organizers.

"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.

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Comments

[crablover]

I will not watch the Olympics this year and I will boycott the products of its advertisers. If the USA is really concerned about human rights and democracy, we would refuse to participate in China's propaganda program.

[LiberalBuzz]

There is no doubt in my mind the IOC was paid off to give China the Olympics.

China has terrible human rights violations.

It's pollution is just plain dangerous to athletes and humans in general.

It is censorship heavy.

It respects NO OTHER COUNTRY'S rights.

And YET they got the Olympics.

Payola and of that there is no doubt in my mind.

And let's be even more brutally honest, this is no longer a world wide event for all athletes, the same few countries always dominate while the poorer country's are lucky if they an afford to even send their athletes.

I can't even understand why ANYONE would buy tickets and travel to China under these circumstances.

But then again, you have to be wealthy to spend two weeks in China for the Olympics so it's not really surprising, because the majority of the rich really have no conscience at all with regards to the things the rest of us find important.

[DontSpinMeBro]

Having a hard time disagreeing with most of what you say. However, as a USA coach who has recruited and trained and coached several Olympic athletes, I have to say the "money" is just not there as much as you think it is. Some of you may know athletes who max out their credit cards, live in their cars, get support from their family and even do a few things that can't be mentioned here, all in pursuit of the Olympic Dream. This happens even though an athlete may live most of the year at an OTC (Olympic Training Center). Their committment has to be 24/7. It has to be a lifestyle or they won't be competitive.

[kidshare]

Don't forget, however, how Salt Lake City gained the Winter Olympics.

[Mort]

EVERY CITY that hosts the Olympics is required to "grease the wheels" with the IOC. The public got a taste of that with Salt Lake, but that was no isolated incident.

[Ozarks]

The restricted access, agreed to by the IOC, shows that it cares more about money than the intent and goals of an Olympics. This Olympics is not a sporting event it is phony political event. The only way to reject this type of behavior from the IOC is to boycott the entire facade. If the IOC wants restricted access then they should get it. If everyone just turns it off, the whole show will be restricted to IOC fat cats and the China politico's. Just turn it off and let the sponsors and IOC eat the costs.

[thegirlnextdoor]

It has been a long time since I thought the Olympics was a place for athletes of all the world to compete in friendly games.
It is political and an advertising bonanza. I find placing the games in China to be so offensive I have not paid any attention to them at all!

[DontSpinMeBro]

The Olympics is all about the best athletes of each nation coming together in sport and brotherhood.
It should be respected as a "Switzerland" (neutral) of sport. Meaning, no politics.
There are plenty of other stages and opportunities to get one's political message across.
If we all do hope for and work for peace, then this one oasis should be preserved.

Yeah, I know it hasn't been for a long time, but it could be if we all committed to it.

Free and open athletic competition is an inspiration to all, of our good human potential.

[timepants]

Switzerland is a tax shelter and deserves no such respect.

[Amalek]

Agreed. Har boring criminals and those who cheat society is just a rich man's version of terrorism.

[AnnArky]

"Oh, baby, just you shut your mouth."

[Documentor]

The Olympics movement started with the ideals of international cooperation and communication, but have been debased into political theater and BIG MONEY Roman circuses on a global scale. Even the Nazi-politicized 1936 games were less cynical than the current mess. Every Olympic venue competition is positioned as a chance for a national prestige and turns into giant real estate deals that victimize citizens, and for what? Advertising, real estate, and corrupt payoffs. And athletic doping, let's not forget that.
Skip Beijing, scrap the IOC, always hold the games in Athens, and get back to the ideals.

[Diogenis]

Spoken well and with wisdom!

[Sloppyseconds]

The IOC are a bunch of criminals for kowtowing to dictators. Now they are attacking an individual's right to free speech. They should all be tossed in the can for one year for each person the Chinese have imprisoned simply because they want their freedom. The IOC is a disgrace to the human race.

[sonicfilter]

Add another reason to boycott the Olympics to a list a mile long.

Do they have a winter in Burma? Seems a logical next step for an Olympics if you go by the standards set by China.

[ratcityreprobate]

Boycotting TV coverage of the Games will hurt NBC, but it will have the long term effect of reducing the broadcast rights of the IOC. A pinch in the wallet is the only message those hypocrites will understand. Turn off the TV.

[Stacie Nevadomski Berdan - Huffpost Blogger]

It's not a surprise but this year's Olympics are a chance to keep up the pressue for outsiders to better understand China, and for China (mostly its officials) to better understand the need for less control. The web is a fantastic source of information that will the pressue on! Check out this site set up to help people better understand language, culture and even the streets of Beijing this summer: olympics.comod/olympics.com

[GayIthacan]

Stacie - cupcake...­....

How can the web 'put the pressure on' if it is being censored? (insert eyeroll emoticon here)

[josephbua]

GayIthacan, Stacie is engaging in an act that I call "littering the web with your own links."

She does it shamelessly of course, because the site has nothing at all to do with the topic at hand.

And those of you who have been censored at HuffPo, join the club. Three of my comments were removed this week, none of them were in violation of the TOS.

[AmandaBC]

Says the huffpo blogger who censors any opinion she doesn't approve of...
Yeah yeah, go ahead and scrub this one too, as you have no other way to disprove the FACT that you're a big HYPOCRITE.

[RobinSeattle]

Yep, she censored one of my posts, too, when I averred that China wasn't as cuddly as she wants us to believe. She is just a naive shill for a brutal regime.

[NicholeWebb]

This is a surprise?