Countdown to 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing

北京2008年夏季奥运会进入倒计时

This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.

On Wednesday, China celebrated the one-year mark until the start of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

The celebration included sporting events and ceremonies across China. The Chinese government has spent tens of billions of dollars on transportation and buildings to prepare for the Olympic Games.

But not everyone is celebrationg. China is being criticized for failing to honor promises to improve human rights and press freedom before the games. The international media rights group Reporters Without Borders is among those criticizing China. The group says China told Olympic officials six years ago that it would improve its human rights record. But the group says about one hundred reporters and dissidents who use the internet remain in prison. The group says thousands of other dissidents are jailed and executed in public every year.

Reporters Without Borders held a protest Monday near the Olympic headquarters in Beijng. Chinses police detained about twelve foreign reporters covering the event. They were later released.

Chinese Olympic officials had answered the criticism saying the games should not be politicized. This year a new media law went into effect in China. The law gives foreign media freedom to report throughout China until the end of the Olympics without the government interference. Officials with the organising committee for the Beijing Olympics say China welcomes critical voices in the media.

But China’s actions do not support that claim. Officials keep tight control on the national media. They block foreign websites and broadcasts critical of the government. VOA’s websites and broadcast are often blocked in China.

Some American lawmakers and activist groups have proposed legislation calling for a boycott of the Olympics unless China improves it’s human rights situation.

China is facing criticizen in other areas as well. Some Olympics sporsts teams have expressed concern about the effect China’s air pollution will have on their ethletes’ health.

The president of the international Olympic comettee admitted that the air pollution in Beijing could force delays of some outdoor events. Jacques Rogge said Wednesday that postponements were a possibility for some sports that are continued in several hours such as cycling.

Beijing is one of the most pollute cities in the world. But Chinese official have said the country is doing everything it can to make sure that ten thousand ethletes would be able to compete in clean air.

And there is still another issue. An activist group called the Olypmic Dream for Darfur is urging China to use its economics and political ties with Sudan to do more to end the violence in Darfur. China is Sudan’s largest foreign investor. It has blocked strong United Nations action against the government of Sudan.

And that's IN THE NEWS, in VOA Special English, written by Brianna Blake. I'm Steve Ember.

这里是VOA特别英语新闻

在星期三，中国在北京进行了2008奥运会开幕一周年的倒计时。庆祝活动包括体育活动和全中国的的（庆典）仪式。为筹办奥运会，中国政府已经在交通与建筑上花费了数百万美元。

但并非所有的人都在庆祝。由于在比赛前前没有遵守改进人权和新闻报道自由，中国受到了指责。国际媒体权益组织，无国界记者是批评中国的组织之一。该组织称，中国在六年前告知奥运官员他将改善其人权水平。但该组织称有近一百位使用网络的记者和反对者仍然在监狱里。该组织称每年有近千名反对者被监禁。

无国界记者星期一在奥运会的主会场附近举行了一场抗议。中国警方镇压该事件拘留了12名记者，他们后来被释放。

中国奥运官员回应批评说比赛不应当被政治化。今年，中国颁布了一项新的法律。该法律给予外国媒体在奥运会期间在中国采访的自由，不受政府的干预。北京奥组委官员说中国欢迎来自媒体的批评。

但是中国的做法并没有支持那个申明。官方对媒体进行严格的控制。他们封锁了外国批评政府的网站和广播。VOA 的网站和广播经常在中国被封锁。

一些美国立法者和激进分子呼吁抵制奥运会除非中国改善其人权状况。中国也面临着来自其他方面的批评。一些运动队表达了他们对中国的空气污染对他们的运动员健康的担忧。国际奥运会主席承认北京的空气污染可能会延迟一些户外运动项目。雅克•罗格在星期三说有些持续数小时的项目，比如自行车可能会延期。

北京是世界上污染最严重的城市之一。但中国官方说国家正在尽其所能以保证一万名运动员在洁净的空气中比赛。

还有一件事。一个被称为“达尔富奥运梦想”激进组织威胁中国用它与苏丹经济和政治关系结束达尔富的战争。中国是苏丹最大的海外支持者。他们组织了联合国对苏丹采取的强硬行动。

以上VOA特别英语新闻是由布赖勒·布雷克撰稿。我是史蒂夫·安贝。