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With Just A Month To Go, Beijing Not Quite Ready

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The Associated Press

Published: July 8, 2008

Updated: 07/08/2008 12:55 pm

BEIJING - With one month to go before the Olympics open Aug. 8, China's work is hardly complete.

The government needs to meet its pledge to deliver clean air in one of the world's most polluted cities, and must finish two new subway lines and a railway line. The 31 venues in Beijing are ready, and most have been for months.

But the most difficult promise to keep for the authoritarian government may be allowing reporters - as many as 30,000 are expected - to work freely as they have in other Olympics. This was a pledge China made seven years ago in winning the bid.

Television networks like NBC and the International Olympic Committee have been at odds for months with Chinese security officials, fighting to clarify the rights of satellite trucks to move freely around the city of 17 million.

Access to spots like Tiananmen Square - who will be allowed in, when and under what conditions - is also a battleground with Chinese officials fearing the iconic sites could be used as a TV backdrop by pro-Tibet protesters.

This issue should come to a head again this week when broadcasters, the IOC and games organizers meet Wednesday in Beijing. This is a follow-up to a contentious meeting in late May when IOC and broadcast officials criticized Beijing organizers for bureaucratic delays that could compromise TV coverage.

"I think this free reporting will be a problem for everyone," said Johannes Hano, East Asia bureau chief of Germany's ZDF television. "They will stop you even if you have permission. It will be the biggest problem. There is no freedom of press as they promised."

Torres Drops 100 Free To Focus On 50 Free

OMAHA, Neb. - Dara Torres has dropped the 100-meter freestyle from her Beijing Olympics schedule, choosing to make the 50 free her only individual event in her record fifth games. The 41-year-old sprinter's decision was announced Monday by USA Swimming. Torres will be replaced in the 100 free by Lacey Nymeyer, who finished third.

VOLLEYBALL: Nicole Branagh and Elaine Youngs finished second in the Moscow Grand Slam during the weekend to earn enough points to clinch the second American women's berth. Jake Gibb and Sean Rosenthal also clinched an Olympic berth.

Reigning gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor qualified long ago, as did the top U.S. men's team of Todd Rogers and Phil Dalhausser. Each country is limited to two, two-person teams.

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