By Katie Hamann

It is less than a year now until the curtain rises upon the 29th Olympiad in Beijing. Rising from the dust, gleaming new sporting venues play host to China's elite athletes and entertainers busy with final preparations for the performances of their lives.

But a cloud remains over the Chinese Administration, accused of perpetuating gross human rights abuses and severe restrictions on freedom of expression and the veil of secrecy surrounding the Government's widespread use of the death penalty and torture remains drawn.

"By allowing Beijing to host the Games you will help in the development of human rights"

Liu Jingmin, Vice-President of Beijing Olympic Bid Committee, April 2001 .

In 2001 China was granted the privilege of hosting the summer 2008 Olympic Games after pledging to improve human rights. Almost seven years on the Administration remains dogged by persistent reports that human rights abuses are escalating in the lead up to the games. The Government has squandered the goodwill and recognition extended by the International Olympic Committee.

Amnesty International urges the IOC to uphold the principles of its charter by sending a clear message to China that, as an Olympic host nation, they must demonstrate a clear and genuine commitment to human rights.

Chinese citizens continue to be imprisoned, tortured and killed for expressing their opinion. Supporters of human rights, democracy, religious groups and ethnic minorities have been silenced or live in fear of persecution or worse.

Amnesty International Australia's campaign has thrown the spotlight on China's repression of free speech. Access to the internet is limited and public surveillance widespread. Global technology companies such as Google, Microsoft and Yahoo are complicit in this censorship. We would like citizens everywhere to have the same access to the information tools we do.

China is believed to execute more prisoners than any other country in the world. Its death penalty regime is shrouded in secrecy. In 2006 the Government acknowledged 1,010 executions but this figure is thought to be significantly higher. 68 crimes in China are punishable by death, including non-violent and white-collar crimes. People can be executed without trial after confessing to crimes under torture.

Torture is readily employed by the state as a weapon against detainees. Religious and ethnic minorities, supporters of democracy and human rights advocates are all targets for arbitrary detention, often without trial. A culture of oppression and fear is perpetuated by a legal system that sanctions surveillance, house arrest and intimidation.

The Olympic Games have provided further justification for the Chinese Government to curtail human rights. Residents have been evicted from the homes to make way for development. Journalists and human rights activists have been warned not to highlight the human rights situation in the lead up to and during the games.

In September this year a letter by celebrated Chinese Human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng was read to the US congress. In it he spoke of his desire to see the games in Beijing but lamented the way in which the games have been used by the Chinese government as justification for human rights abuses and silencing his people.

"What the Chinese Authorities failed to predict is how widely the corrupted officials are taking advantage of the Olympics. Under the name of securing the success of the Olympic Games, all kinds of evils have been committed in broad daylight, including forced evictions, illegal arresting and persecuting people who petition to the authorities, and the suppression of religious people. It is plain as day to all Chinese people that, with successes in hosting the Olympic Games, the communist regime is trying to appear as a legal government despite all the tyranny and all horrible crimes against humanity the party has committed during the past decades at the cost of at least 80 million Chinese lives."

Global leaders and human rights activists have expressed concern that the international recognition bestowed upon off will give succor to China's administration.

Speaking recently to the European Parliament cyber activist Hu Jia, who with his wife remains under house arrest in Beijing, described the current human rights situation as disastrous.

Jia told the Parliament that, for China, the games are about legitimising authoritarian rule not fostering greater openness and democracy.

He compared the Chinese Government to Adolf Hitler's administration on the eve of the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games.

"On one side you have Western society and the Chinese people who are hoping the games will bring openness and freedom, but the Chinese authorities want to use them to solidify their rule," Hu said in an audio link via and interpreter.

"They are persecuting many people and right now in China it is the peak of that persecution."

The IOC has, until now, resisted calls for China to be officially challenged over its human rights record.

But following the European Parliament meeting former Olympic gold medallist and Senior IOC member, Hungarian Pal Schmitt said, "it is time for a political statement". Citing the IOC's formal actions against South Africa's apartheid regime as an example Schmitt said it was no longer possible to "close our ears to what's happening".

From the 1950's South Africa's apartheid regime forbade multi-racial sport and blocked mixed race teams from competing there. Ceding to international pressure the IOC banned South Africa from competing at the Tokyo Summer Games in 1964. The IOC went further in 1970, expelling South Africa from the Olympic Movement.

South Africa's persistence with apartheid through the seventies and eighties saw its increasing economic, cultural and sporting isolation, culminating in the IOC's declaration against apartheid in sport in June 1989, which saw any athletes who competed in South Africa excluded from the Olympic program. Negotiations to end apartheid would begin in 1990 resulting in the free elections of 1994, which delivered Nelson Mandela the Presidency.

The IOC has a responsibility to maintain and promote the spirit of the Olympic movement. Its charter requires all members to embrace the fundamental principles of Olympism including the promotion of a 'peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.' It declares any form of discrimination 'with regard to country or person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise' as incompatible with belonging to the Olympic family.

As the eyes of the world turn to Beijing, China cannot be allowed to squander the privilege bestowed upon it. The Olympic Games present a unique opportunity for meaningful and lasting reforms. In keeping with its obligations as a host nation, China must stop the systematic abuse of human rights and as governing body the IOC must ensure its members celebrate and promote human rights and freedoms.