Olympic chiefs investigating Beijing censorship
Olympic officials investigating reports of censorship
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Monday, 11, Aug 2008 10:59
Olympic officials are said to be investigating reports that journalists covering the Beijing games have had their notebooks and tape recorders confiscated.
An eyewitness has claimed Chinese journalists were approached by officials during a press conference with the USA men's volleyball team after questions were asked about the death of Todd Bachman.
Mr Bachman, the father-in-law of the team's coach Hugh McCutcheon, was stabbed to death by a Chinese man on Saturday.
Beijing officials say they were attempting to find out what had been said in the press conference because they had not understood the English questions.
The Times newspaper reports, however, that the Chinese journalists did not receive their notes back after the confrontation.
There has been considerable concern leading up to and during the Olympic Games that Chinese authorities would try and censor international coverage of the event.
Beijing is so concerned with portraying a positive image that reports suggest officials are trying to prevent any links being made between Mr Bachman's death and the Olympics.
A number of foreign journalists said they had been approached during the weekend as they tired to cover the incident.
The International Olympic Committee has said the matter is being investigated.