Free Tibet Campaign issued a report today called 'Telling Olympic Lies: SARS, the IOC and Beijing 2008' to coincide with the meeting between the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) President Dr Jacques Rogge and the Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss the 2012 London bid.

The report highlights how the attempted media cover up of the recent SARS crisis in China should alert the reluctant IOC that it has to take a strong lead in ensuring human rights improvements in China. So far, the IOC has preferred to take a "softly-softly" approach to dealing with a corrupt and unaccountable regime who are desperate to exploit the presence of the Games.

Free Tibet Campaign stated:

"So far we have been very disappointed that the IOC has not taken steps to ensure that there is a positive human rights legacy that could emerge from the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The IOC has to stop playing with the language of human rights and get serious on this issue."

"The SARS crisis has illustrated the Chinese media's desire to push the reporting boundaries only to be punished by a regime intent on stifling the truth. Can the IOC trust Beijing to prevent a crisis like SARS developing again if the price of openness is too high for a regime intent on holding onto control?"

Since China won the right to host the 2008 Olympic Games on 13 July 2001, Free Tibet Campaign as part of an international network of Tibet groups has campaigned for the IOC to institute human rights standards into its planning process for Beijing 2008. The organisation believes that this could help improve human rights in the country and constitute a lasting legacy to be derived from the Olympics. The IOC has consistently rejected appeals for transparency in its relationship with the Chinese leadership and refused to reveal what human rights clauses are contained within the currently confidential Host City contract. The IOC resolutely maintains its ban on all political meetings or demonstrations taking place in the Host City in the immediate run up to the Games.

Download Telling Olympic Lies: SARS, the IOC and Beijing 2008