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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| China defends pre-Games promises | China defends pre-Games promises |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| China has vigorously defended itself against accusations that it has not fulfilled promises it made when it bid for the Olympic Games. | China has vigorously defended itself against accusations that it has not fulfilled promises it made when it bid for the Olympic Games. |
| Top Beijing Olympic official Wang Wei said the Olympics would allow China to open up further to the outside world. | Top Beijing Olympic official Wang Wei said the Olympics would allow China to open up further to the outside world. |
| He was responding to criticism about China's pledges on issues such as human rights and media freedom. | |
| International Olympic officials have voiced disapproval over the detention of a UK journalist covering a protest. | International Olympic officials have voiced disapproval over the detention of a UK journalist covering a protest. |
| 'Stepping forward' | 'Stepping forward' |
| China has faced a barraged of criticism in the lead-up to the Games on a range of issues, including air pollution. | China has faced a barraged of criticism in the lead-up to the Games on a range of issues, including air pollution. |
| Critics also say China has failed to improve human rights and accuse it of reneging on a pledge to provide complete media freedom to report the Games. | Critics also say China has failed to improve human rights and accuse it of reneging on a pledge to provide complete media freedom to report the Games. |
| But in an impassioned speech, Wang Wei, executive vice-president of the Beijing organisers, dismissed the bad publicity. | But in an impassioned speech, Wang Wei, executive vice-president of the Beijing organisers, dismissed the bad publicity. |
| Speaking at a press briefing, Mr Wang said that when he was secretary-general of the Beijing Olympic bid committee, he was "confronted with many questions".Police prevented journalists filming a pro-Tibet protest on Wednesday | Speaking at a press briefing, Mr Wang said that when he was secretary-general of the Beijing Olympic bid committee, he was "confronted with many questions".Police prevented journalists filming a pro-Tibet protest on Wednesday |
| "I did say that the Olympic Games coming to China will help China open up further and reform better," he said. | "I did say that the Olympic Games coming to China will help China open up further and reform better," he said. |
| The fact that China had set up protest areas for its citizens during the Olympics showed it was heading in the right direction, he said. | The fact that China had set up protest areas for its citizens during the Olympics showed it was heading in the right direction, he said. |
| "I think China has been stepping forward, and if you ask the ordinary Chinese on the streets they will give you the same answer," he said. | "I think China has been stepping forward, and if you ask the ordinary Chinese on the streets they will give you the same answer," he said. |
| "Everybody is happy. People are optimistic about their own future. That is a fact." | "Everybody is happy. People are optimistic about their own future. That is a fact." |
| Mr Wang went on to attack what he termed the small number of people who criticised China. "That does not mean we are not fulfilling our promise," he said. | Mr Wang went on to attack what he termed the small number of people who criticised China. "That does not mean we are not fulfilling our promise," he said. |
| Visitors coming to China for the first time would see a different country to the one represented in films and newspapers, he added. | Visitors coming to China for the first time would see a different country to the one represented in films and newspapers, he added. |
| "People will see better for themselves what China is like," he said. | "People will see better for themselves what China is like," he said. |
| Despite the comments, International Olympic Committee spokeswoman Giselle Davies, sitting next to Mr Wang, said journalists should be able to do their jobs unhindered. | Despite the comments, International Olympic Committee spokeswoman Giselle Davies, sitting next to Mr Wang, said journalists should be able to do their jobs unhindered. |
| Her comments come after a British journalist was briefly detained while trying to cover a pro-Tibet protest near the main Olympic venues. | Her comments come after a British journalist was briefly detained while trying to cover a pro-Tibet protest near the main Olympic venues. |
| "We donât want to see it happening again," she said, referring to the detention. | "We donât want to see it happening again," she said, referring to the detention. |