Gosper

"I reckon if you bounced a wallaby in front of a group of 20 Australians who lived in Sydney and asked them what it was without leading them, you'd get at least 15 of them saying it's a kangaroo," says Mr. Gosper, who is Australian.

Look-Alike Wines Featuring Look-Alike Marsupials Duke It Out David Kesmodel 2011

Even many Aussies can't tell the difference between the two, says James Gosper, who runs Wine Australia USA, a government agency that promotes the nation's wine.

Look-Alike Wines Featuring Look-Alike Marsupials Duke It Out David Kesmodel 2011

"The whole thing doesn't make sense other than there has been a stupid bloc vote," Gosper said.

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It was Gosper who was gobsmacked -- this is the word I would use -- when told about access denied to the foreign press in Beijing as the journalists assembled in July.

Monroe Price: How to Read the Great Olympics Internet Censorship Drama 2008

Gosper -- in Australian fashion -- committed the Australian sin of ultimate candor last week when he discussed the situation:

Monroe Price: How to Read the Great Olympics Internet Censorship Drama 2008

Gosper told NEWSWEEK the payments "" would continue if Sydney won, and would not continue if Sydney didn't win. ''

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"We have always had an understanding, and we haven't necessarily talked about it, that any sovereign government will block pornographic sites and what they might consider subversive, or sites which are contrary to the national interest," Gosper said.

Monroe Price: How to Read the Great Olympics Internet Censorship Drama 2008

Gosper, the Australia IOC member, was caught up in the controversy.

Monroe Price: How to Read the Great Olympics Internet Censorship Drama 2008

I might add that Australia has been an excellent source of journalism about this question (partly because Gosper, a key figure, is an Australian).

Monroe Price: How to Read the Great Olympics Internet Censorship Drama 2008

Gosper acknowledged full Web access was not possible due to China's authoritarian government and the tight social controls exerted by the Communist Party.

Monroe Price: How to Read the Great Olympics Internet Censorship Drama 2008