Foreign media: "No access to Chinese sporters"

via WikipediaForeign media, and sponsors, in China are complaining they get no access to the Chinese top-athletes expected to score at the coming Beijing Olympics, according to AFP:

"We have literally sent thousands of faxes every week asking for interviews with Chinese athletes – and got nothing," he said.

With just two months to go before the Games, Olympic sponsors – who initially had a freer hand in organising publicity assignments with Chinese athletes – have also been cut off from the stars.

Chinese authorities want their sporters to focus on their training, but that might hurt also commercial interests if not a right balance is found in dealing with the media.