Chinese authorities have been accused of “permanently obstructing” attempts by foreign media to cover the Winter Olympics, by refusing or ignoring requests for access and by following, harassing and abusing journalists.
In a scathing declaration On Tuesday, the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China, which acts on behalf of foreign media in China, called for transparency and clarity in China’s National Olympic Organizing Committee.
The club also accused the committee of not having respected the charter of the International Olympic Committee obliging it to ensure the most complete media coverage possible for the broadest world public. The Games are due to take place in Beijing in February.
“The repeated demands of our members towards [Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games] 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 contact details for BOCOG media presenters, only to receive dismissive or inaccurate information from them. “
The FCCC said that over the past year, foreign journalists have been largely unable to access press conferences or events open to domestic media, including the arrival of the Olympic flame. He said many news dates were not released or announced with just a few hours’ notice.
“Foreign journalists who attempt to register for events are turned away because BOCOG limits participation to only media of their choice, claim the event is full or because they require participants to submit results. of the Covid test within an impossible period of just a few hours. “
The FCCC provided several testimonies, including that of an American journalist who said he was arrested and questioned by the police after trying to take photos with his phone of a place from a public road.
Another broadcaster said he was called by an organizer of a visit to an Olympic venue and shouted after a report mentioning human rights boycotts. “We haven’t had access since,” the broadcaster said.
A journalist from a European newspaper who tried to visit sites after BOCOG did not grant access was arrested at the entrance to the winter sports tracks in Chongli and Yanqing. “This lack of access means that Chinese state media claim on the environmental sustainability of sites are impossible to verify, ”the reporter said.
The FCCC said the conditions for visiting accredited foreign journalists were also unclear, including whether they would be allowed to travel in and out of Beijing, and what quarantine measures were imposed on them.
China has embarked on a zero Covid strategy and has implemented a ‘closed loop’ management system for the Games, in which all participants and employees can only move between Games-related venues for their own sake. ” train, participate in competitions and work on a dedicated transport system.
China’s relations with the international media have collapsed in recent years. Many positions around the country – including for major media outlets such as the New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal, and all Australian media – remain empty after Beijing expelled or forced dozens of journalists in 2020 He has since dealt with very little. visa applications for journalists outside of China wishing to enter, and dozens remain pending, leaving the media with inadequate crews to cover the event.
The FCC called on BOCOG to provide transparency and clarity for international media, process outstanding visas, improve access and clearance to media events and venues, and appoint communications officers with the media providing real help.
“With less than three months to go until Beijing 2022 starts, there is still enormous uncertainty over how and if foreign correspondents will be able to cover the Games,” the FCCC said.
BOCOG has been contacted for a response.
