News Wrap for 8/1/08

Internet censorship at the Olympic media center dominated press freedom news today. An official with the International Olympic Committee proclaimed “the issue has been resolved” and that Internet access will be provided “just like in any Olympics,” Reuters reported. Yet details were scant on exactly what level of access would be provided by Beijing organizers–and Chinese officials and state media remained silent on the issue.

Agence France-Presse said that its reporters were able to access some human rights and news Web sites that had been blocked earlier in the week. Kevan Gosper, IOC press commission chairman, gave the most detailed account of the possible changes. The Sydney Morning Herald quotes him as saying that all sites except those considered “pornographic or subversive” by the Chinese government “should be free.”