Those of you who read this blog know I loathe the International Olympic Committee to a degree that might border on the unhealthy. But that's because the IOC embodies everything the Olympics are NOT supposed to be about: greed, backroom shenanigans, bribery, special interests, and now flat out lying.

One of the main things the IOC clearly stated it would do for the Olympic Games was offer unrestricted internet access to journalists.

But guess what, it turns out some IOC officials cut a deal to let China block sensitive websites a senior IOC official admitted today.

Wow, that's just fantastic. I didn't think my opinion of the IOC could get any lower, especially after they awarded a country with massive human rights violations the Games, but this officially did it. Besides, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't one of the ideals of the Olympic Games for people from all over the world to share their experiences and cultures with each other? China apparently didn't get that memo, nor did the IOC, which is too busy bowing to China's every command.

But enough of my railing on the IOC. These Olympic Games will be one of the great modern day clashes of freedom of information versus a government that rules through the restriction of information.

China can do everything it possibly can to prevent videos or bad stories from leaking out, but it simply can't be done.

There are too many avenues these days for information to get out. Emails, YouTube, YouTube-like sites that aren't as quick to take videos down as YouTube, blogs, videos, cell phone cameras, cell phone video recorders, the list goes on and on.

Mark my words, we will likely hear, see, and read stories about China that we've never heard before thanks to the Olympic Games. And these stories won't all be about sports. Even though China is granting limited access to journalists, athletes and tourists, things always slip through the cracks.

Plus, there's little question that the Western notions of freedom of speech and access of information will clash - not violently, but certainly loudly - with China's neurotic attempts to stifle them.

And the one thing that always prevails though in situations like these is that smart people find ways to be heard. And with all the ways to make that happen today, that's exactly what we're going to see happen.

The real question is how China responds. Will they realize that there are some things they simply can't control, and that it's only a matter of time before they too, as a modern society, have to make some concessions? Or will they instead solidify the belief that awarding these Olympic Games to them was a nightmare waiting to happen from Day 1?

If you want my opinion, this won't have a happy ending.

IOC admits Internet censorship deal with China [Yahoo! News]