Access To Web Sites Still An Issue In Beijing

Just one week out from the start of the Summer Games and journalists are starting to descend on Beijing en masse. There are two stories dominating the early media cycle -- Internet access and air quality. It is surprising that BOCOG and the IOC would let any online restrictions get to this point, as they have to know the biggest threat to a successful Games is an unhappy media. Start off on the wrong foot by making the media’s job more difficult, and it can only go downhill. Just ask Atlanta. Meanwhile, the air quality shows little -- if any -- signs of improving and has become fodder for both late-night shows and bloggers. And Dick Ebersol finally speaks to the media, saying the reason he has been laying low about his negotiations with the Chinese is, “Because I'm the person who had to continually deal with (Chinese officials) at the highest levels about being open about stuff.”