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**SarSerceSaice** · 04-10-2008, 12:06 AM

Olympic Torch Relay May Be Scrapped

Sky News
Updated:16:03, Tuesday April 08, 2008
International Olympic torch relays may be scrapped after protesters caused chaos in London and Paris - and promised more of the same in San Francisco.

The International Olympic Committee executive board is to meet in Beijing on Thursday in the wake of major demonstrations in the British and French capitals.

They will not cancel this year's relay, even though protesters are planning more disruption when the torch arrives in San Francisco on Wednesday.

Beijing Olympic organisers have also vowed the relay would continue as planned, despite the relentless protests that have overshadowed it since the flame-lighting ceremony in Greece on March 24.

A total of 37 people were arrested amid demonstrations that saw one activist try to put the torch out with a fire extinguisher in London.

Then the Paris leg had to be cut short due to constant disruptions by hundreds of campaigners protesting over China's controversial rule of Tibet and a range of other human rights issues.

Campaigners have already scaled the Golden Gate Bridge to unveil banners protesting against China's role in Tibet in advance of the torch's arrival in San Francisco.

Organisers are trying to stage the most ambitious Olympic torch relay of all time, visiting 19 countries during an 85,000-mile journey.

IOC board member Kevan Gosper said talks would focus on whether the relays should be limited to the country where the Olympics are to be held, rather than a journey around the world.

He said that the IOC might now prefer a return to a more modest relay progamme in which the torch was lit in Greece and then transferred to the host country, which then staged a purely domestic relay.

"I am a firm believer that we had the right template in the first place, that the torch should go from Olympia, Greece, to the host country," he said.
Craig Reedie, the British IOC member, said London had yet to decide on a plan for the torch relay for its 2012 Olympic Games.

"Now is probably not the best time to start planning it," he said.
Meanwhile, US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has said President George W Bush should boycott the opening ceremony of the Games this summer.

She said he should not attend the ceremony in Beijing unless there were "major changes by the Chinese government".

The 60-year-old former first lady urged the Chinese authorities to "live up to universal human aspirations of respect for human rights and unity".

04-10-2008, 12:06 AM	#48
SarSerceSaice Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 486 Senior Member	Olympic Torch Relay May Be Scrapped Sky News Updated:16:03, Tuesday April 08, 2008 International Olympic torch relays may be scrapped after protesters caused chaos in London and Paris - and promised more of the same in San Francisco. The International Olympic Committee executive board is to meet in Beijing on Thursday in the wake of major demonstrations in the British and French capitals. They will not cancel this year's relay, even though protesters are planning more disruption when the torch arrives in San Francisco on Wednesday. Beijing Olympic organisers have also vowed the relay would continue as planned, despite the relentless protests that have overshadowed it since the flame-lighting ceremony in Greece on March 24. A total of 37 people were arrested amid demonstrations that saw one activist try to put the torch out with a fire extinguisher in London. Then the Paris leg had to be cut short due to constant disruptions by hundreds of campaigners protesting over China's controversial rule of Tibet and a range of other human rights issues. Campaigners have already scaled the Golden Gate Bridge to unveil banners protesting against China's role in Tibet in advance of the torch's arrival in San Francisco. Organisers are trying to stage the most ambitious Olympic torch relay of all time, visiting 19 countries during an 85,000-mile journey. IOC board member Kevan Gosper said talks would focus on whether the relays should be limited to the country where the Olympics are to be held, rather than a journey around the world. He said that the IOC might now prefer a return to a more modest relay progamme in which the torch was lit in Greece and then transferred to the host country, which then staged a purely domestic relay. "I am a firm believer that we had the right template in the first place, that the torch should go from Olympia, Greece, to the host country," he said. Craig Reedie, the British IOC member, said London had yet to decide on a plan for the torch relay for its 2012 Olympic Games. "Now is probably not the best time to start planning it," he said. Meanwhile, US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has said President George W Bush should boycott the opening ceremony of the Games this summer. She said he should not attend the ceremony in Beijing unless there were "major changes by the Chinese government". The 60-year-old former first lady urged the Chinese authorities to "live up to universal human aspirations of respect for human rights and unity".
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