The heated Chinese reaction to a controversy over whether officials actually had issued an order to ban Bibles in Olympic facilities being built for the 2008 games shows there is an underlying worry over issues involving religion, according to a Christian ministry.

"While the U.S. Olympic Committee has received confirmation that visiting athletes, journalists and tourists will in fact be allowed to bring Bibles into Beijing for personal use, the mere possibility of the ban's existence has been seen as yet another attempt by the Chinese government to suppress religious freedom within its borders, despite its repeated claims to the contrary," according to a new statement from Christian Freedom International.

A media report earlier revealed that Bibles were going to be banned from the housing complexes for athletes during the 2008 Games. While Chinese officials, who have expelled dozens for Christian missionaries in an apparent crackdown on Christianity in advance of the 2008 Beijing Games, called the report a "total rumor," others said the reaction still indicates problems.

"Christian Freedom International … is encouraging all believers to pray for the persecuted church in China," the group said. "As the international community keeps a watchful eye on a country still defending itself against a long history of religious and human rights abuses, even as it prepares to welcome the world to the 2008 Olympic Games, CFI is challenging Christians everywhere to remember those in China who routinely suffer harassment, torture and even martyrdom for their faith."

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