Media not told of censorship plan, IOC says

The international media should have been told they would not have completely free access to the internet before they arrived to report the Beijing Olympics, IOC press chief Kevan Gosper told Reuters yesterday.

As the row over censorship continued to rumble, Gosper said that both he and the international media had been taken by surprise that some sensitive websites had been blocked despite many assurances from Beijing organisers that they would be able to work normally during the Games.

Gosper said: "It's clear that I have been providing, on behalf of the IOC, incomplete information."

Gosper said he had never been told that some IOC officials had held discussions with local organisers BOCOG that some websites not directly connected to the Games could be blocked.

"Had I and the international media been informed earlier of this understanding that certain websites would be inaccessible, we would not now find ourselves in the position where they, as well as myself, have been taken by surprise," he said.