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

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Beijing Olympics 2008: Winning Press Freedom 94 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:
Beijing Olympics 2008: Winning Press Freedom 95 • The safety and the peaceful operation of the Olympic Games; • Fulfillment of obligations and respect for the Olympic Charter (including the goal of encouraging the establishment of a peaceful society concerned with preservation of human dignity); • Evidence of support of national, regional, and local populations including opinion polls (must be conducted by internationally recognized research agencies or organizations), referendums, awareness campaigns; • Any laws prohibiting or limiting importation of foreign newspapers, periodicals, or other publications; • Economic effect on the city and the region; • Planning, construction and protection of the environment; • Health system, water and air quality, and arrangements for the Games; • Security including crime rates, risks posed by “activist minorities” (religious, political, ethnic, etc.) or terrorist groups in the country or the region. The host city contract signed by the Beijing authorities, the International Olympic Committee, and the China National Organizing Committee sets forth the legal, commercial, and financial rights and obligations of the International Olympic Committee and Beijing. Despite requests by Tibetan groups, Human Rights in China and others, the Beijing host city contract has not yet been made public. However, International Olympic Committee officials, including Rogge, have alluded to provisions in the contract that respect human rights and instructed the Beijing Organizing Committee to provide complete media access. The Beijing Olympic action plan lays out in greater detail the overall guidelines and plan for Olympic preparations. This plan pledges to provide “green Olympics,” “high-tech Olympics,” “free and open Olympics,” and “people's Olympics.” These lofty aims include specific standards to which Beijing has promised to hold itself accountable. They encompass a wide range of obligations, from responsible governance to air quality targets, security to economic development. Reporting on and judging performance of Olympic promises Despite the government's promises to host Olympic Games that will promote and help the development of human rights, preparations are being used as a justification for further violations, including forced evictions, closure of migrants' schools, harassment of lawyers, and tightened media controls. While the time for an interim assessment has come and gone, past host cities have issued a post-Olympic assessment. Through its Olympic and other international promises, Beijing
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Beijing Olympics 2008: Winning Press Freedom - World Press ...

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