IOC admits Internet censorship deal with China

MSNBC ^ | 7/30/08 | Reuters

[mngran2]

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 Web site 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.

Attempts at the main press center to access the Web site of Amnesty International, which released a report on Monday slamming China for failing to honor its Olympic human rights pledges, continued to prove fruitless by mid-week.

Other Web sites, including those relating to the banned spiritual group Falun Gong, are also inaccessible.

Beijing organizers said censorship would not stop journalists doing their jobs in reporting the Games.

"We are going to do our best to facilitate the foreign media to do their reporting work through the Internet," BOCOG spokesman Sun Weide told a news conference.

"I would remind you that Falun Gong is an evil, fake religion which has been banned by the Chinese government."

Reporters without Borders, a Paris-based media watchdog, said it was increasingly concerned that there would be many cases of censorship during the Olympics.

"We condemn the IOC's failure to do anything about this, and we are more skeptical about its ability to ensure that the media are able to report freely," the group said in a statement.

[mngran2]

More evidence the IOC sold out to the ChiComs. I'm still for a boycott, though I know it's too late. Meanwhile, President Bush is getting ready to attend the opening ceremony. How very sad. But hey, we have to make sure the Chinese still love us so they'll keep sending us cheap crap to sell at Wal-Mart.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

How big are their reeducation camps ?

[nuconvert]

"IOC sold out to the ChiComs" Why would anyone think that they're any different from the UN?

[WoofDog123]

“But hey, we have to make sure the Chinese still love us so they’ll keep sending us cheap crap to sell at Wal-Mart. “

More like so they will keep buying our bonds.

[Azeem]

No democratic society should be in the Olympics in China.

[Wolfie]

Come on, you’re going to get upset at the IOC? Corporate America sold out to the Chinese decades ago, and I’d say that has a few more, and much wider, implications.

[DoughtyOne]

Well, the Olympics will get a zero rating from our home.

We won’t be watching this travesty.

(I)nternational (O)pologists for (C)hina

This moment in time was ushered in by U.S. leadership (or lack thereof) over the last twenty years. I am ashamed of what our nation now accepts without question.

[SeaHawkFan]

The up side of the Olympics being held in China is that it will be a public relations disaster for the communists.

Wonder how many bribes were paid to get the games held there.

[mngran2]

This moment in time was ushered in by U.S. leadership (or lack thereof) over the last twenty years.

I think it goes back farther than 20 years. We've been sucking up to the ChiComs for a lot longer than that.

[DoughtyOne]

It would be rediculous not to acknowledge that the seeds of what has come to pass did take place under Nixon.  That being said, having an open dialogue with a nation is not the same as encouraging corporations to flood it with U.S. trade and and a massive income stream.

That didn't really take place until the early 1990s.  What Nixon did during the heighth of the Cold War wasn't out of line.  What we have done since then is.  And it hasn't been just 'out of line', it's been incredibly stupid.

Look at what we are financing.  Look at the hundred years worth of technology we gave China.  Look at what China is doing, building up it's military and competing for global resources.

We have slit our own throat and are continuing to make the cut deeper and longer every day.  Nixon was not a true Conservative, far from it.  I doubt he would have been stupid enough to do what we have done.

Then you get guys like Warren Hatch, that actually wanted to gift China with our entire complete patent database.  The knife is already in.  Now we have leaders who are twisting it.

[Hoffer Rand]

OK, this guy needs to join 0bambi’s campaign. Seriously, this ranks right up there with the self-annointed one’s penetrating “feeling” that Israel strike Iran if things continue the way they’re going.

Brilliant conclusions. NOBODY could have seen EITHER of these things coming...

[UCFRoadWarrior]

All the Liberal Globalist Free Traders kept claiming that “free trade with China will open up their country and bring democracy”

Pretty much Communist China is still their old Commie self. All free trade has done was created the biggest wealth redistribution scheme ever devised.

This nonsense will end once you cut free trade with Communist China. Continued pandering to Commie China is nothing more than outright subversion.

Sadly, instead of hearing of athetic accomplishments....we will be hearing puff pieces about Commie China during the Olympics. Liberals, subversives, and Free Traders may like that, but I sure will not

[monday]

“Come on, you’re going to get upset at the IOC? Corporate America sold out to the Chinese decades ago, and I’d say that has a few more, and much wider, implications.”

Nope. Corporations exist to make money. They aren't political and the bottom line is all that matters. The IOC, on the other hand, chose China for purely political reasons, NOT FINICIAL. The reason was ostensibly to help bring freedom and openness to the Chinese people. This is not happening. Instead it is clear that the IOC is collaborating with the Communist government to present the Chinese Olympics as some sort of triumph of Chinese Communism. The IOC is evil.

[Prokopton]

Corporate America sold out to the Chinese decades ago

Corporate America has nothing to sell out. They have neither morality nor values but only profit or loss. Although not always like this, the extra national corporations of today owe allegiance to no one and no country. "Conservative" believers in pure "capitalism" claim it must be like this. I'm not so sure.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

However, people and nations have morality and values. No corporation has the right to subvert a nations safety and security by “trading with the enemy”.

With freedom there is responsibility. No corporation is above that

Real conservatives do not do business with the enemy (Yes, Commie China is an enemy of the US, whether liberals/subversives/free traders say otherwise. In fact, it is liberals who believe “business is OK” with an enemy who is subversive and Communist

[Wolfie]

The IOC isn’t selling out our country. If you want to worry about the IOC, knock yourself out.

[mysterio]

IOC should have told the communists to pound sand.

The games could have been a wonderful way to open up China. Instead, they are ruining their world reputation even further.

[Prokopton]

Real conservatives do not do business with the enemy (Yes, Commie China is an enemy of the US, whether liberals/subversives/free traders say otherwise.

That's not what the "free traders" think, many who post here on FR. Free trade is always good everywhere with everyone. Don't you know that if there was only more "free trade" your enemies would become your friend?

[longtermmemmory]

The Chinese bought the Olympics with bribes fair and square.

let the torch of doping burn bright!

(/s)

[UCFRoadWarrior]

That’s not what the “free traders” think, many who post here on FR. Free trade is always good everywhere with everyone. Don’t you know that if there was only more “free trade” your enemies would become your friend? - Prokopton

I understand what you mean. I never could fathom the very liberal rationale from free traders that “trade will make them like us”.

Sometimes the Free Traders on FR sound like the posters on DU

Communist China is still very Communist....the Middle East is still America-hating/Jew-hating bunch of Islamic nutballs....subsidizing people that hate you never changes them.