The Chinese government has given permission for special distribution of booklets of the Gospels, copies of the New Testament and full Bibles during the Olympic Games, but other concerns about freedom of speech and expression remain.

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Pro-Tibet freedom protesters from media rights group Reporters Without Borders broke through the cordon of 1,000 police officers in Olympia, Greece, as China's envoy spoke and the Olympic torch was lit prior to the Beijing games.

Celebrations are planned in China to mark the production of more than 50 million Bibles in the People's Republic by Amity Printing Company, a joint venture between the United Bible Societies and Amity Foundation, a Chinese Christian agency.

Using the 2008 Olympics in Beijing as a platform, a US commission on religious freedom has called for increased international pressure on China to end its intolerance of religious expression - writes Cheryl Heckler for Ecumenical News International (ENI).

Campaigners who are part of a London-wide citizens organisation, which brings together a wide range of community and faith groups, held a demonstration at the end of last week, calling for fair pay for workers involved in preparing for the 2012 London Olympics.