Last month an American journalist was detained and questioned at length by Canadian border guards who wanted to know if she was planning to do any public speaking on the 2010 Winter Olympics. The journalist was shocked, but the Canadian authorities say the incident was within legal limits. Critics say that it is a part of a concerted effort to stifle dissent on Olympic issues.

The International Sports Press Association has joined the call for action sent to the IOC president and members in an open letter during the Olympic Congress in Copenhagen.

After one day of international media pressure the International Olympic Committee, IOC, yesterday decided to open up the “secret” 13th Olympic Congress in Copenhagen.

First the International Olympic Committee (IOC) denied journalists access to the Marriott Hotel in Copenhagen, where the 106 IOC-members stay during their 121st session and 13th Olympic congress. This was on Thursday.

The International Olympic Committee, IOC, has decided to limit the media access to the Marriott Hotel in down town Copenhagen, Denmark, where the 106 members of the IOC are staying during the 121st Session and 13th Olympic Congress.

The domestic political and commercial marketing of the candidates Chicago, Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and Tokyo are contrary to the IOC's bible - the Olympic Charter.

Reporters kept away from the 106 voters in the election of the Olympics 2016.

The Coventry Declaration was approved by conference delegates at Play the Game 2009, the sixth world communications conference on sport and society. The declaration calls upon the Canadian Government and Olympic authorities and to state their commitment to ensuring all Canadians and those visiting Canada will have their fundamental right to security of the person and freedom of expression protected as guaranteed by Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms.