China’s Great Firewall must be lifted during the Olympic Games to ensure free access to the rest of the world.

That was the message from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to the Beijing organisers of the Games during meetings that will be the last official sessions between IOC inspectors and the Chinese hosts before the Games open on August 8.

Kevan Gosper, vice-chairman of the IOC co-ordinating commission, said blocking the internet during the Games would reflect very poorly on the host nation. “Even this morning we discussed and insisted again. Our concern is that the press is able to operate as it has at previous Games — at Games time.”

China routinely blocks access to certain sites on the internet and can implement at will a blacklist of words that cannot be found and will crash a search engine. Since angry Tibetans rioted in Lhasa last month — leaving at least 18 people dead and hundreds of burnt shops and offices — barriers to certain parts of the internet have been enforced with even greater vigour.

Mr Gosper said that the Chinese had an obligation under the host city agreement to open internet access to 30,000 accredited and non-accredited journalists expected to attend the August Games. “There was some criticism that the internet closed down during events relating to Tibet in previous weeks, but this is not Games time.”

He voiced confidence that the Chinese understood the need for open access to the internet and that they would comply.

In a sign of possible loosening of internet controls, China a few days ago lifted a block on the BBC website that had been in place for years. However, Wikipedia remained outside the firewall — apparently because of its many references to such sensitive issues as the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, the Dalai Lama and Tibet. Many international blogs cannot be accessed because their host servers are blocked.

In terms of security for the Games, Mr Gosper described China’s preparations as excellent.

In a sign of Chinese anxiety about any possible disruption to the smooth flow of the event, President Hu Jintao has said that security guarantees were essential to ensure China’s international reputation. He told the newspaper of China’s anti-riot forces, the People’s Armed Police News, that: “Without security guarantees there cannot be a successful Olympic Games, and without security guarantees, the national image will be lost.”

The newspaper said a “political mobilisation order” had been issued to the paramilitary, telling them to prepare for an arduous time ensuring order and control before and during the Games in August. “The drums of war are sounding, a decisive battle is at hand. For the sake of the Chinese nation’s image and for the honour of the People’s Armed Police, let us never forget our duty.”

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