Beijing Winter Olympics Committee dismisses allegations of foreign media blocking

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The organizing committee for the Beijing Winter Olympics has rejected accusations that journalists have been blocked in their attempts to cover preparations for the Games.

Earlier this month, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China (FCCC) accused Chinese authorities of “permanently obstructing” attempts by foreign media to cover the Winter Olympics due to start near the Chinese capital. in February.

In a scathing statement, the FCCC alleged that authorities were refusing or ignoring access requests, and tracking, harassing and mistreating journalists. It contained several accounts of specific cases of foreign journalists, including verbal abuse and the freezing of a journalist who mentioned human rights boycotts in a report.

“The repeated requests from our members to the organizing committee for the Beijing Winter Olympics [BOCOG]on how the international media can report on the Games have encountered conflicting or completely overlooked responses, ”said the FCCC.

“FCCC members say they spent weeks trying to get the contact details of Bocog’s media hosts, only to receive contemptuous or inaccurate information from them. “

In response, Bocog said China “has never recognized the organization.”

“What this organization has said is inconsistent with the facts and cannot represent the real voice of foreign journalists in China,” she told the Guardian in a lengthy statement.

Le Bocog said it “guarantees freedom of reporting” by international media on the Games, in accordance with “relevant Chinese policies” and on condition that reporters comply with “relevant Chinese anti-epidemic laws, regulations and policies.”

However, the statement also made several promises that appeared to respond to calls made by the FCCC, including for a dedicated media liaison office during the Games, and for foreign media to be invited to domestic press events. He said that depending on the epidemic situation, three press conferences for foreign media would be organized with the speed skating stadium, the Olympic village and the sports center.

“As the competition unfolds, we will also increase the registration quota for foreign media in the test competition,” he said.

The statement said the Bocog “always welcomed” media attention and reports from foreign journalists on preparations for the Games, always provided good services and denied that there was “a so-called” inadequate disclosure of information ””. As part of his defense, he noted the delivery of 28 issues of an Olympic bulletin to 183 media outlets.

He was not referring to calls by the FCCC to approve long-standing visas for foreign journalists, after dozens were deported in 2020. – Guardian

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