Olympic Watch (Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games in a Free and Democratic Country) was established in direct response to the IOC’s decision to grant the 2008 Olympics to Beijing. Its core focus has been civil and political rights, most importantly the freedom of expression, death penalty, and the plight of prisoners of conscience. Having stated that the IOC has failed to defend human rights and Olympic ideals, it is currently focusing on other actors in the Olympic movement. Not calling for boycott per se at this point, it urges all actors to take a clear stance on the issues.