Hundreds or even thousands of websites remain block in the Media Press Center in Beijing, even after the ban was lifted on some affected sites last week.

“I think we will give the media complete freedom to report when they come to China.” That was Wang Wei, secretary general of the Beijing Olympics organizing committee, after his country won its bid in 2001.

Cheering! Rousing Applause!

“I don’t anticipate there will be any constraint,” said Kevan Gosper, the head of the International Olympic Committee’s press commission, in April. “They should have free access to the Internet.”

Applause.

“My preoccupation and responsibility is to ensure that the Games competitions are reported openly to the world,” Gosper said last Tuesday. “This didn’t necessarily extend to free access and reporting on everything that relates to China.”

Some confused clapping.

“I have also been advised that some of the IOC officials had negotiated with the Chinese that some sensitive sites would be blocked,” Gospar said the next day.

Silence.

Read more: Web Scout: Spinning through online entertainment and connected culture.