The FCCC issued a statement on November 2, which accused Chinese authorities of "continuously stymying" attempts to cover the build-up to the Games.

The group, which represents foreign media outlets in China, criticised a lack of transparency from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Beijing 2022.

The FCCC said the behaviour of organisers - including allegations a foreign broadcaster was prevented from covering any further events after one report referenced China's poor human rights record - was in breach of the Olympic Charter.

"The FCCC is concerned about the lack of transparency and clarity from the Beijing Organising Committee as well as the IOC with regards to Olympic-related reporting in China," the FCCC said.

"We call on Beijing 2022 and the IOC to improve international reporting conditions in the run-up to, and during, the Games."

The FCCC claimed there was "tremendous uncertainty" over how foreign correspondents will be able to cover the Games, claiming they had been unable to attend any press conferences or venue visits in the build-up to the Games.

Citing testimony from some of its members, the FCCC also alleges foreign journalists' requests to cover pre-Beijing 2022 events have been denied in favour of Organising Committee-approved media and others have been given "impossible" timeframes to provide COVID-19 test results to attend them.

Rules set to be imposed at the Games in the Chinese capital include ordering anyone not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to quarantine for 21 days.

The United States followed the FCCC statement by calling for China to not restrict access and movement for journalists during the Games.

Beijing 2022 responded to criticism in a statement to the Guardian, telling the newspaper that it "guaranteed the freedom of reporting" by international media, while claiming the FCCC’s claims were inconsistent.

"What this organisation said is inconsistent with the facts and cannot represent the true voice of foreign journalists in China," Beijing 2022 said, according to the Guardian.

Organisers reportedly pledged to establish a dedicated media liaison desk during the Games, as well as allowing foreign media to domestic press events.

The IOC had responded to press concerns earlier this month, following the FCCC statement.

"The IOC places great importance on the work of the global media and its coverage of the Olympic Games," an IOC spokesperson told insidethegames. 

"We have been made aware of the specific concerns of the FCCC through their statement and we will address them with the Beijing 2022 Organising Committee."

Press freedoms were also a concern for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Concerns have been raised around Beijing 2022 amid a wider discussion over China’s human rights record.

Criticism over China's human rights record, an alleged "genocide" of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang and its treatment of Tibet and Hong Kong have dominated the build-up to Beijing 2022.

Media attending the Games will have to enter a "closed loop" for the duration of the Games, which will include venues and accommodation.

The closed loop forms part of the COVID-19 playbook for Beijing 2022, with participants required to undergo daily testing.

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from February 4 to 20 2022, followed by the Paralympics from March 4 to 13.