Beijing - Undeterred by international protests against internet censorship for journalists at the Beijing Olympic Games, China's organizers Thursday insisted their hardline measures would remain in force.

Banned websites were not accessible because they violated Chinese laws, Sun Weide, spokesman of the Chinese organization committee BOCOG, said Thursday.

"We are opposed to any attempt to politicize the Games," he said, giving the websites of the Falun Gong movement as an example. The organization, which is banned in China, was an "evil sect," Sun said.

Foreign correspondents in Beijing Thursday protested against the clampdown on internet access.

"The Chinese government's controls on the internet are contrary to the free reporting environment promised by the hosts and contradict International Olympic Committee (IOC) assurances that the press will be able to operate as at previous Games," a statement by the Foreign Correspondents Club of China said.

The IOC had originally promised uncensored internet access for the foreign press corps and had pressed the Chinese hosts to fulfil their promises, but caved in Wednesday.

However, the IOC remained in contact with the organizers to "see what can still be changed," IOC spokeswoman Sandrine Tonge said.

Thousands of foreign journalists would now experience the daily censorship endured by internet users in China, the FCCC said and urged the authorities to "lift controls on the web in line with the stands of openness expected of an Olympic host."

"I hope that the press will respect the Chinese laws," Sun said, saying that the BOCOG was not responsible for censorship, but their job was to organize the Games.

Further questions had to be directed to the "relevant authorities," he added.

Sun defended the hard line, saying the Games already brought greater openness, for example in the public debate about pollution. The Games brought China broad social progress, providing jobs for millions of Chinese, he said. (dpa)