Chua Chin Hon on what's causing a chill in Beijing.

In Beijing

Not likely, the journalists suggested as they kept up a barrage of questions about whether there is a cover-up, whether the environmental measures have been ineffective, and whether more cars will be forced off the roads.

A new "battle" shaped up today over the issue of Internet access. At a press conference, foreign journalists took Chinese officials to task over the blocking of several websites critical of China.

These blocked sites include those for Amnesty International, the Falungong sect, and the Tibetan government-in-exile.

Blocking these sites, the journalists insisted, reneged on Beijing's promise of full and unrestricted online access during "Games time", which began on Sunday when the Olympics Village opened.

Faced with these questions, Mr Sun Weide, a spokesman for the Games' organisers, soon ran out of ways to paraphrase his stock response that reporters would be given "sufficient and convenient access".

Unconvinced, reporters pressed him further and wanted to know what he considered "sufficient" access, and why the websites of organisations not outlawed by the Chinese government were being blocked.

Mr Sun managed to keep his cool, but was understably not too thrilled by the grilling. Where he couldn't use his stock answer, the spokesman would ignore the questions asked altogether.

If the terse exchange at today's press conference is any indication, the upcoming Summer Games is going to be a frosty affair between Chinese officials and foreign journalists covering the event.

Anyone up for the luge?