Mischief and mayhem abound

The NewsMarket debuted the Beijing 2008 Olympics Channel today. The destination will provide free news content about the Beijing games in both English and Chinese. It will also include video for use by journalists and bloggers.

The page went live despite drama about the pending state of internet access over the course of the Games. According to Adrants, the vice chairman of the International Olympic Committee's coordinating commission is "satisfied that the Chinese understand the need for [availing online access to journalists] and they will do it."

That confidence hasn't stopped concerned journalists, bloggers and pro-Tibet activists from going on strike. To fuel the fire, Reporters without Borders began disseminating images of handcuffs arranged like Olympic rings over the headline, "Beijing 2008." Shirts are also being sold and it is likely the Games will start amidst contention.

France, whose job it was to pass the torch peacefully to China, has joined the fray with vigor. President Nicolas Sarkozy said he would boycott the start of the Games unless China agreed to release its political prisoners and hold talks with the Dalai Lama.

As for the Olympic torch, it was briefly extinguished at the ceremony in Paris during a run-in with protesters and police officers this week. A representative of the Beijing Olympics said the debacle "blasphemed the Olympic spirit," reports XinhuaNet.