The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ in Beijing
One story last week will have slipped under most people's radar, yet it could still have significant implications for the biggest sporting event of the year.
while his wife and two-month-old baby remain under house arrest.
Human rights issues are not new in China, but as the Olympics gets ever closer they will be brought into sharper focus.
The Beijing authorities are under scrutiny like never before - their reaction to that increased media attention could determine whether the decision to award them the Games is judged a success or a hopelessly misguided error.
- exactly six months before the start of the Games - that it remains absolutely confident that the Olympics will prove to be a "force for good" in China but they know human rights are a big source of debate which they cannot ignore between now and August.
They say they are constantly monitoring the situation and remain committed to protecting their 'Olympic values.'
Their calming words are unlikely, though, to satisfy those groups demanding a tougher response.
For us, as sports journalists, the Olympics are the pinnacle - an event which captures the drama of all sport like no other (only the football World Cup comes close).
As you would expect, , but that doesn't mean we can close our eyes to the very serious issues surrounding it - whether they are human rights, pollution or drugs in sport.
As the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ is split into separate news and sport departments (like most media organisations), we sometimes get involved in strange arguments about whether something is a 'news' story or a 'sports' story. My own view is that it doesn't really matter how we characterise it - the most important thing is whether it's a good story and one which the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ should be covering.
On Wednesday February 20th, the new series of Inside Sport returns with a special from Beijing - and preparations for the Games.
The programme will, of course, focus on sport and some of the sportsmen and women aiming for gold in August, but it will also address the wider social and cultural aspects of holding an Olympic Games in China. Look out for more details on this website over the next week or so.
Also, on the dedicated Olympics section of this website, one of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s news correspondents, Michael Bristow, is writing a regular - giving an insight into life in the Chinese capital.
Meanwhile Five Live Sport has been following the stories behind some of the athletes preparing to compete in August - the next 'Five Live Olympics - the road to Beijing' is on March 20th.
Ultimately, the aim must be to ensure that while we cover the sport in all its glory, we don't neglect the other fascinating, controversial and complex issues surrounding the 2008 Olympic Games.
