BEIJING (AP):THE INTERNET must be open during the Beijing Olympics.
That was the message a top-ranking International Olympic Committee (IOC) official delivered on Tuesday to Beijing organisers during the first of three days of meetings, the last official sessions between IOC inspectors and the host Chinese before the Games begin in just over four months.
China routinely blocks Internet access, a practice it has stepped up since rioting broke out more than two weeks ago in Tibet.
Kevan Gosper, vice-chairman of the IOC coordinating commission, said blocking the Internet during the Games "would reflect very poorly" on the host nation.
"Even this morning, we discussed and insisted again," Gosper said. "Our concern is that the press is able to operate as it has at previous Games - at Games time."
A need for cyberspace
Gosper said the Chinese has an obligation under the so-called 'host city agreement' to open Internet access to 30,000 accredited and non-accredited journalists expected to attend.
"There was some criticism that the Internet closed down during events relating to Tibet in previous weeks, but this is not games time," Gosper said.
Laws that lifted most restrictions on foreign media went into effect on January 1, 2007. The rules are due to expire in October.
"I'm satisfied that the Chinese understand the need for this and they will do it," Gosper added.
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.
Tibetan controversy
Gosper spoke after Hein Verbruggen, chairman of the inspection committee, addressed his Chinese hosts. Without being specific, Verbruggen noted that China's August 8-24 Games had become embroiled in controversy.
The unrest in Tibet - and China's response - has heightened calls for a boycott or a partial boycott of the Games. This comes in the wake of worries over Beijing's dirty air and calls for China to increase pressure on Sudan to end fighting in Darfur.
The Darfur issue prompted Hollywood director Steven Spielberg to step down as an artistic adviser for the opening and closing ceremonies.
The torch relay, which left Beijing on Tuesday for Kazakhstan and a month-long global tour, is sure to draw protests and blemish an event Chinese organisers had hoped would generate positive images of the country.
