Beijing Olympics 2008: Winning Press Freedom - World Press ...

Beijing Olympics 2008: Winning Press Freedom
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From the beginning of its Olympics bid, China set high expectations. Promises made by
government officials and Olympic organizers were influential in Beijing's successful bid. An
official commentary by the Xinhua news agency complimented the International Olympic
Committee for its foresight in awarding the Games to China, a country that seven years
later “will be home to a stable society, a prosperous economy and a well-off population.”
It added, “the country's transportation and environmental situation will be greatly
improved, and the cause of democracy and rule of law will continually advance.”
In February 2001, Beijing's Deputy Mayor, Liu Jingmin, a top Olympic official, said, “By
applying for the Olympics, we want to promote not just the city's development, but the
development of society, including democracy and human rights.” Liu added that a
victorious bid would “help us establish a more just and harmonious society, a more
democratic society, and help integrate China into the world.” Wang Wei, secretary general
of the Beijing bid committee, pledged that the government “will give the media complete
freedom to report when they come to China.”
These promises represent a range of commitments to the International Olympic
Committee, the Chinese people, and the international community, including commitments
on human rights, social and economic development, and press freedom. Yet, since then,
the Chinese authorities have changed their tune, stressing “sovereignty” and that the
“Games are only about competition and athletes.”
The Executive Vice President of the Beijing Organizing Committee, Jiang Xiaoyu, said in
March 2008: “As [International Olympic Committee President] Jacques Rogge said, the
Games is solely a sporting gala that shouldn't be linked with politics.”
On protests along the Olympic torch relay route in Athens, Wang Wei stated: “We are here
to celebrate the Olympic spirit, not to come to a political debate.” Reflecting historical
amnesia, the International Olympic Committee, corporate sponsors, and even foreign
governments are echoing this official Chinese line. With the billions of dollars already
invested in or expected as profit from the Games, it is clear that changing the rules midgame
has become rhetorically, and politically, acceptable.
Beijing's responsibilities as host city
The Beijing Games must be judged within the broad framework of official representations
and promises, domestic law, and the host's ongoing international obligations - including
human rights obligations and the Olympic Charter. Beijing's Olympic-specific obligations
are set forth clearly in the (still not publicly available) host city contract and the 2002
Beijing Olympic action plan.
While Beijing's actual bid candidacy file is not publicly available, the model candidacy file
from the International Olympic Committee's manual for candidate cities for the 2008
Olympics indicates the types of commitments Beijing addressed. These include
information, representations, and guarantees regarding: