By Glenda Korporaal
OLYMPIC host broadcasters, who have paid billions for the right to televise the Beijing Games starting in eight weeks, are furious with China’s oppressive security measures, endless red tape and unexplained delays they claim are jeopardising their coverage.
Saul Shtein from Australia’s host broadcaster, Seven Network, has told an emergency meeting in Beijing between Chinese organisers, high-ranking International Olympic Committee officials and TV executives from nine host broadcasters that “if this story gets out that these difficulties are being experienced, it will have a very negative impact, not only on the Olympic ideals, but also on Beijing and China”.
“There are still significant issues needing to be resolved immediately,” Mr Shtein told the meeting. “They are not trivial issues - they need to be resolved very quickly.”
The issues range from permission for live coverage in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City to allegations that shipments of television broadcasting equipment are being held up in Chinese ports, difficulties moving personnel and equipment in Beijing, and overly complicated procedures for accreditation and accommodation.
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