Media frustration builds during Olympic Games
Updated
Five days out from end of the Beijing Olympics, the international media are increasingly frustrated by answers they are getting from organisers about broken promises on human rights and press freedom.
Their frustrations are now being centred on the official Beijing Games website as sensitive questions and answers do not end up on the official online transcripts of press conferences.
The Olympic press briefings resumed today with more heated exchanges between journalists, the International Olympic Committee and the Beijing Games organisers.
During the briefing, one foreign journalist, who refused to return the main microphone, questioned the vice president of the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (BOCOG), Wang Wei, on the accuracy of the website's content.
But Mr Wang could not offer a direct answer
"Yeah you can consult with the website I think the website make the final content," he said.
"I think they doing that according to what actually happened."
Wang Wei also did not know about the reported 21 point plan from Chinese Propanganda Unit..
Among other points, the document advises Chinese Games journalists not to report on Tibet, East Turkestan or the official Beijing Games protest parks.
Wang Wei says he has been advised the 21 one point plan does not exist.
To bring the point home, a journalist from the Chinese state broadcaster CCTV stood up and made this statement.
"As person working in the press, I am really at a loss what it that all about," she said.
"For me as member of the media I have never heard of anything like 21 guidelines
"I really don't know what you are talking about since my freedom has been unrestricted."
The international media, however, has not been satisfied.
The group Human Rights in China has reported that two local dissidents who reportedly sought to protest in the official Beijing Games protest parks have been sentenced to one year hard labour.
The International Olympic Committee spokeswoman Giselle Davies says the IOC will look into the claims, but reminded journalists that the Games are supposed to be about sport.
"The IOC took a decision to come to Beijing because opening the door and engaging is the way forward it can be a catalyst for development," she said.
"We see just by the fact that we are all here discussing important matters that fall outside the direct sporting area that that catalectic effect isn't happening.
"But the games themselves cannot be a cure for all the challenges cannot be a cure for all the ills."
Competition resumes in the main press centre on Friday.
