BBC SportOlympics

Tibetan activists protest at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne

Friday marks six months until the start of the Olympics and there remains disquiet in some quarters at the record of the Chinese communist government.

But IOC communications chief, Giselle Davies, told BBC Sport: "We feel, very strongly, it was the right decision.

"We are just as proud of that decision today as when we made it."

A leading human rights activist, Hu Jia, was arrested last week prompting further calls for the IOC to speak out.

But Davies added: "History will look back and say the Games were a key part in a rapid and fascinating evolution of a country which is front and centre of the global community.

606: DEBATE Will Beijing prove to be the correct choice?

"There's no denying there has been a number of reports of late in the media of issues of concern.

"But come August, there will be two weeks of competition when the whole world will be watching and up to 20,000 media on site.

"That will allow the world to take a look at Beijing and the wider Chinese society. We see that as positive - and think it will engender a stronger understanding.

"If and when there are things which are brought to our attention that we deem to be specifically Games-related and not in line with our values, of course we're concerned.

Over the course of the last seven years, there has been enormous change that has taken place in China - some of it thanks to the Olympics IOC chief Giselle Davies

"But, over the course of the last seven years, there has been enormous change that has taken place in China - some of it thanks to the Olympics.

"We believe the Games have been more positive than negative over the course of that time."

There was controversy last year when reports emerged that the Chinese Government was building a database on foreign journalists due to cover the Olympics - and that some reporters could be blacklisted.

The report was denied by the country's authorities, but the IOC accepts that China still has to make progress on the issue of press freedom.

Davies said: "As regards to the media rules and regulations, there was a great step forward made in January 2007 bringing in new laws that will help foreign journalists in their reporting.

"It's fair to say that there are some problems with the implementation of that law but we still believe it's on track for August 2008."

In January, the Chinese Government confirmed that six workers had died while building venues for the Games, though a report in the Sunday Times newspaper suggested that at least 10 workers had died accidentally in the course of building the main stadium.

Members of the organisation 'Free Tibet' protest in front of the Parthenon in Athens

As a result, the IOC say it has sought and received "assurances" from the Beijing organising committee about the health and safety of building workers.

Meanwhile, it is warning athletes not to use the Games as a vehicle to make political or religious statements.

"The Olympics is first and foremost a sporting event and that should never be forgotten. It's not the place for political, religious and other statements," said Davies.

"Clearly athletes, if they are asked questions, will have total freedom of expression to answer as they see fit. But the Games is not the place for proactive expressions on religion and politics."

Whether Prince Charles will be at the opening ceremony in Beijing has also been a source of controversy after he confirmed to the Free Tibet Campaign that he had no plans to attend.

The Prince has publicly supported the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, who has challenged Chinese control of the region.