IOC urges China to let reporters work freely
15 August 2008
An altercation between a British journalist and the Chinese police in Beijing led the International Olympic Committee on Thursday to urge China to let foreign reporters cover the Olympic Games freely, AP reported. IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies told reporters at a daily briefing that the IOC does not approve of "any attempt to hinder a journalist" and that "we don't want to see this happening again." John Ray, a China correspondent for ITV news, said he was roughed up by Chinese police while attempting to cover a pro-Tibet rally in Beijing. Beijing has established approved areas for protests during the Games, but activists say the protest zones were established as a way to catch dissidents.