Facebook, Twitter unblocked for Beijing 2015 World Championships in Athletics - but only at sporting venues

Beijing has allowed access to previously blocked websites including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube for the 2015 World Championships in Athletics held in the city this month, but the move is tightly restricted to event grounds and competition venues.

Both Facebook and Twitter have been blocked in China for over six years, with the authorities claiming that activists were using them to organise riots and protests, such as the 2008 unrest in Xinjiang that led to the entire region's internet being cut off for a year.

However, every so often Beijing lowers the so-called Great Firewall, during large-scale sporting and business events.

At the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and the Nanjing Youth Olympics in 2014, social media sites were available only on event grounds.

“There is access to western social media at all competition venues and all official hotels,” said Chris Turner, deputy director for public relations of the International Association of Athletics Federation, which is organising this month's competition.

He clarified that access would be available in and around the main stadium, warm-up, and training venues, and that "accredited" participants would be able to access the websites by using the wireless or cable networks provided during the event.