Media will have access to uncensored Internet and there will be no delay of the television signal at the Beijing Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Thursday.

China routinely censors the Internet and delays or censors television signals but the IOC's chief inspector said Beijing organizers had assured his team that the 30,000 media expected to cover the August 8-24 Games would not be effected.

He also said television cameras would be allowed to film on Beijing's central Tiananmen Square.

said by jc100 :

IOC could refuse to sanction the games and have lots of money pulled out I am sure. One of the big ways Olympics make money is through sponsorship. I am sure the IOC holds the rights to decide who comes and go. I highly doubt they would take it that far, but who knows. I am sure it's one of their options and this could cost China TONS of money if it were to happen.

said by jc100 :

IOC could refuse to sanction the games and have lots of money pulled out I am sure. One of the big ways Olympics make money is through sponsorship. I am sure the IOC holds the rights to decide who comes and go. I highly doubt they would take it that far, but who knows. I am sure it's one of their options and this could cost China TONS of money if it were to happen.

When asked about Gosper's comments, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said China's "management" of the Internet followed the "general practice of the international community."

She acknowledged that China bans some Internet content, and said other countries did the same. She declined to say if the Internet would be unrestricted for journalists during the Olympics.

said by Vathral :

This might be intereting :o

Kevan Gosper, vice chairman of the IOC coordinating commission, said restricting access to the Internet during the games "would reflect very poorly" on the host nation.