The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today called on the Chinese authorities to unblock certain Internet sites that have become unavailable for foreign journalists arriving in Beijing to cover the Olympic Games which begin in nine days.

 “We learn with dismay from the Chinese government that some Internet sites are blocked”, said Aidan White, General Secretary of the IFJ. “This is a serious breach of the promise given that all journalists, particularly those in the Main Press Centre for the Games, would have unfettered access to the Internet. We demand that all restrictions are lifted so that our colleagues can work freely and search access to the information they need.”

The Chinese foreign ministry spokesman who admitted the Internet restrictions said they concerned the Falun Gong spiritual movement, but reporters working already in that country are also unable to seek information from sites such as those related to Tibet or Amnesty International.

 Several  thousand  journalists are already in Beijing and they are complaining about the way certain sites are censored, either because they are unavailable or they prompt suspiciously slow download rates when attempting access.  

 “This is a bad start for journalism,” said White. “We call on the All China Journalists Association and the Chinese authorities to keep their promise and open the Internet to access by all journalists. Censorship has no place at the Olympic Games.”

For more information contact the IFJ at +32 2 235 2207

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries worldwide.

The IFJ is also concerned that the IOC has apparently made an agreement with Chinese officials to allow censorship of Internet access for journalists. "This really does go against the promises that were made by all sides -- in both Beijing and by the IOC -- that journalists would not be subject to censorship," said White.

 At the same time, the IFJ has called on the International Olympic Committee to put pressure on China to ensure that it keeps the Internet open to all by reminding the Chinese government about their undertakings to grant unrestricted access for the period of the Games.