China is increasing the availability of foreign newspapers and magazines in time for the Beijing Olympic games August 8 – 24, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

Foreign publications will be available in new kiosks around areas accommodating athletes and media covering the event.

Usually, overseas publications are only found in venues catering to foreigners. News sites like CNN and BBC are normally blocked, unless they are in areas containing foreigners, according to the AP article, posted by NewsTimes.com.

This could be viewed as a loosening of the strict control China maintains over media, but that is unlikely, as Chinese reporters still face very heavy restrictions about what they can report on, and continue to experience harassment from police and security forces, the AP reported.

"Providing foreign newspapers and magazines during the Olympics is an international practice and also part of our commitment to the Games," said Jiao Guoying, president of China National Publication Import and Export Corp., according to the AP.