Beijing Olympic organizers angrily disputed reports of religious intolerance yesterday, saying Bibles and other religious items for personal use will be welcome at next summer's games — except for the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement. Recent reports by a religious news agency and European news organizations saying Bibles would be banned at the Olympics touched off an outcry that prompted a U.S. senator to call the Chinese ambassador for an explanation and a Christian athletes group to protest the "deep violation."
Beijing organizers flatly denied the reports, and the Foreign Ministry said the reports were likely the work of people who want to sabotage Beijing's hosting of the games. "There is no such thing. This kind of report is an intentional distortion of truth," said Li Zhanjun, director of the Beijing Olympics media center. He said texts and other items from major religious groups that are brought into China for personal use by athletes and visitors are permitted. The Beijing Olympics Web site said "each traveler is recommended to take no more than one Bible into China."| Praying ok, proseletizing not. You Gideons can just stay home. |
| Which means no Bibles in the Olympic Village hotel rooms. I see a plan coming togther ... |
Mr. Li also said religious services — Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist — will be available to athletes in the Olympic Village.
However, he said, the policies do not apply to Falun Gong, reasserting China's determination to eradicate the movement. Falun Gong was banned eight years ago as an "evil cult" after its members staged a mass protest outside government headquarters to demand official recognition. |