Human Rights Watch urged the Chinese government on Tuesday to improve its human rights record before the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

According to a report from Radio Free Asia, “China Olympics Watch,” a web site established by Human Rights Watch, said that the Chinese government should end the censorship and control of media and the Internet, allow the workers to freely organize independent labor unions, and ensure the rights and interests of displaced property owners during the Olympic project. It also said that the International Olympic Committee should urge China to grant freedom of speech to both foreign reporters and Chinese citizens. The sponsors for the Olympic Games should press the Chinese government to affirm the standard of International Labor Organization and respect all kind of rights and interests of workers.

At the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games last week, Athens officially handed over the Olympic flag to the city of Beijing. The Executive Director of the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch, Mr. Adam, said that, “Responsibilities come with the international prestige China receives by hosting the 2008 Olympic Games. An embarrassing record of continuing human rights abuses is no way to welcome the world to Beijing.”