Beijing Winter Olympics officials blame ‘overzealous’ security after Dutch journalist manhandled

Concerns around press freedom in China have been raised on the first day of the Winter Olympics after an international journalist was manhandled by a security guard while attempting to speak on camera.

Sjoerd den Daas, a correspondent with Dutch state broadcaster NOS, was reporting on the opening ceremony outside the National Stadium in Beijing on Friday when he was interrupted by a security guard who then attempted to move him away from the location.

You can watch the disturbing incident play out in the video above

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“We are now being pulled out of here. We have just been expelled from another area, so I’m afraid we’ll have to come back to you later,” said den Daas, according to reported translations.

As den Daas resisted the guard’s attempt to move him, the broadcaster ended the live cross.

While NOS later tweeted den Daas was “fine and able to finish his story a few minutes later”, it also raised concern with the treatment of journalists in China.

“Unfortunately, this is increasingly becoming a daily reality for journalists in China,” NOS said on its official Twitter account.

It was not clear based on the footage what prompted the security guard to target the reporter.

Asked about the incident on Saturday, the International Olympic Committee said the security guard had been “overzealous”.

“I’ve seen that. We’ve obviously been in touch with NOS, the state broadcaster, and it was an unfortunate circumstance,” said IOC spokesman Mark Adams.

“I think someone was being overzealous.

“He (den Daas) was able very quickly afterwards with the help of officials there to do his piece to camera.

“These things do happen. And I think it’s a one-off.