July 31 (Bloomberg) -- The International Olympic Committee betrayed its values by agreeing to allow Chinese censorship of Internet access at the Beijing Games, two advocacy groups said.

The Olympic committee agreed to allow China to block sites deemed sensitive by the government, Kevan Gosper, chairman of the IOC's press commission, said yesterday.

``There is cause for anger here, cause for resentment, but mostly cause for sadness and bewilderment that the IOC would sign away such a basic promise,'' Bob Dietz, Asia program coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said in an e-mailed statement.

International journalists in the Beijing media centers cannot access some Web sites, including Amnesty International and the BBC's Chinese service, even after pledges to give reporters the same freedoms as in previous Olympics. China promised to allow unfettered media coverage when it won the bid for the event.

Sun Weide, a spokesman for the Beijing Olympics organizing committee, said today that Internet access would be ``hindered'' for sites ``propagating information'' banned under Chinese law.

`Hindered'

``According to Chinese law, no one can use the Internet to spread information such as those related to Falun Gong or information that hurts China's interests,'' Weide told a news conference in Beijing. ``We hope the foreign media will adhere to and respect China's laws and regulations.''

Falun Gong is a banned religious movement.

The IOC had ``some contacts'' with the Beijing organizing committee on ``improper access to sites,'' said Giselle Davies, an IOC spokeswoman. Davies did not want to comment further before meeting with Beijing officials today.

``We want to encourage them to ensure there is Internet access for journalists to do their jobs,'' she said in a phone interview.

Gosper, who is also deputy chairman of the committee overseeing Beijing's Olympic preparations, said he was surprised at the deal struck with Chinese organizers.

`Uncensored'

``It was my express belief that there would be open, free and uncensored access to the Internet during the Games,'' The Australian newspaper cited Gosper as saying. ``My preoccupation now is to ensure there is no impediment to reporting the Games themselves.''

China has ``nothing to fear from greater access to the Internet, or to the press,'' White House press secretary Dana Perino said yesterday at a regular briefing. U.S. President George W. Bush on July 29 met with five Chinese dissidents, promising to ``carry the message of freedom'' to China when he attends the game, which run from Aug. 8-24.

The censorship is ``compromising fundamental human rights and betraying the Olympic values,'' an Amnesty Internationalstatement said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Dune Lawrence in Beijing at dlawrence6@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: July 31, 2008 03:00 EDT