Chinese officials drag journalist away during live coverage at Winter Olympics

Beijing: A Danish journalist was forcibly removed by a security guard during live coverage at the Beijing Winter Olympics venue. The journalist is safe and was able to finish his broadcast elsewhere according to his colleagues at NOS Journaal on Twitter.

Sjoerd den Daas was seen giving coverage of the events on camera when a security guard interrupted him and forcibly removed him from the spot. The camera was also switched off.

"Our correspondent Sjoerd den Daas was pulled away from the camera by security guards at 12:00 pm live in the NOS Journaal...Unfortunately, this is increasingly becoming a daily reality for journalists in China," the broadcaster added on the micro-blogging site.

Calling it an "isolated incident", the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said it "will not affect foreign media's reporting at the Games". "Obviously, we have been in touch with the NOS, the state broadcaster, and it was an unfortunate circumstance," IOC spokesperson Mark Adams was quoted as saying by Reuters.

However, the NOS has denied having been contacted by the committee, the report also added. "Neither the NOS management, nor the chief editors of news and sport, our Olympic team leadership in Beijing, or our correspondent himself has spoken to anyone from the IOC about yesterday's incident," the NOS spokesperson said.

Sjoerden den Daas denied any wrongdoing as said that the security guard who had taken their light installation and told them to move had not given any reason why they had been ordered to stop filming. The remainder of the broadcast had to be shot in a nearby parking lot, the journalist revealed on Twitter.

"In recent weeks, we, like several foreign colleagues, have been hindered or stopped several times by the police while reporting on subjects related to the Games," he said, contradicting the IOC comment on the matter. "Therefore, it's hard to see last night's incident as an isolated incident, as the IOC claims, although such interference rarely happens live on the broadcast. And now back to work."

Media covering the Winter Olympics have been restricted to a "closed loop" as part of China's efforts to contain the resurgent Covid-19 pandemic in the country, although international observers have remarked on the possibility of using restrictions to infringe on media freedom.

Several countries including the USA, Australia and India have instated a "diplomatic boycott" of the Games in China. Envoys will not attend although athletes are scheduled to participate. While the USA and other countries have boycotted due to concerns over alleged genocide of the Uighur minority, India's boycott is due to China appointing a soldier involved in the Galwan clash in Ladakh last year as it's torchbearer for the Games.