The Return of Blogspot: Thanks International Media!

Posted on June 20, 2008
Filed Under Beijing Olympics, China Internet, GFW |

The 2008 Beijing International Media Center (BIMC), providing services for approximately 10,000 journalists without IOC accreditation certificates, was put into operation on June 18, according to the Xinhua news agency.

The 2008 Beijing International Media Center is based in the Gehua New Century Hotel Beijing, located on the cityâ€™s central axial line between the second and third ring roads.

Within the BIMC there are several function rooms including a reception hall, working space for the journalists, a press conference hall, a display and exhibition hall, and a catering area. One spokesperson said that at present, the BIMC is still in its trial operation stage. It will officially open to Chinese and foreign reporters on July 8.

And hey presto blogspot/blogger is available again. I really don’t know if the two events are linked, but the government promised to loosen up on the great firewall during the games. Maybe this is a small taste of (brief) liberties to come.

Then again it could just be one of the GFW’s periodic mood swings. Blogspot swings in and out of favor (mostly out). Wikipedia seems to have made it into the GFW’s good graces. Wordpress and Typepad are still out in the cold.

Anyways China readers, get your Soul Summer while you still can.