China has reneged on a promise to provide uncensored internet access for the Beijing Olympics, and the International Olympic Committee had prior knowledge that media covering the games would not be able to access certain websites, including those belonging to the Chinese spiritual group Falun Gong and Amnesty International.
It's an embarrassing blow for the chairman of the IOC's press commission, Australia's Kevin Gosper, who has repeatedly assured journalists they would have unhindered access during their time in Beijing.
The IOC is pushing for open access to news sites such as the BBC and the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle, which were also blocked on Wednesday.
There is a wide discrepancy between internet speeds in and out of China, leading to speculation that traffic is being monitored.