Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Nil Einne (talk | contribs) at 12:46, 11 April 2008 (→Environmental impact: Removing carbon neutral claim, see talk). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (April 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. Feel free to improve this article or discuss changes on the talk page, but please note that updates without valid and reliable references will be removed. (April 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

The 2008 Olympic Torch Relay will run until August 8, 2008, prior to the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. Plans for the relay were announced on April 26, 2007, in Beijing, China. The relay, with the theme "Journey of Harmony", will last 130 days and carry the torch 137,000 km. (85,100 mi.) — the longest distance of any Olympic torch relay. By comparison, when this globe-trotting ritual was first introduced to promote the 1936 Games, the Olympic flame only travelled 3,422 km from Athens to Berlin.

In 2008, after being lit in Olympia, Greece, the torch traveled to the Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens, and then to Beijing, arriving on March 31. From Beijing, the torch is following a route passing through six continents. The torch will visit cities on the Silk Road, symbolizing ancient links between China and the rest of the world. The relay will also include an attempt to carry the flame to the top of Mount Everest (Mt. Qomolangma in the Tibetan language).

The 2008 torch relay has been controversial, being marked on multiple occasions by protests regarding China's human rights record, and in particular the ongoing unrest in Tibet. The path of the torch has been changed on several occasions, with the torch being extinguished by the organisers several times during the Paris leg.

International route

Greece

On March 24, 2008, the Olympic Flame was ignited at Olympia, Greece, site of the Ancient Olympics. The actress Maria Nafpliotou, in the role of a High Priestess, ignited the torch of the first torchbearer, a silver medalist of the 2004 Summer Olympics in taekwondo Alexandros Nikolaidis from Greece, who handed the flame over to the second torchbearer, Olympic champion in women's breaststroke Luo Xuejuan from China.

China

In China, the torch was welcomed by Chinese legal chief Zhou Yongkang and State Councilor Liu Yandong. It was subsequently passed onto Hu Jintao, the President, and then onto Liu Xiang, world champion Olympian in 110 m hurdles.

Kazakhstan

The first torchbearer in Almaty, where the Olympic torch arrived for the first time ever on April 2, was the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev. The route ran 20 km from Medeo stadium to Astana Square. Among other 79 torchbearers were Olympic champions Bakhtiyar Artayev, Yermakhan Ibraimov (boxing), Yuriy Melnichenko, Zaksylik Ushkempirov (wrestling), Anatoly Khrapaty (weightlifting); the first Olympic champion for independent Kazakhstan Vladimir Smirnov (cross-country skiing) skied his lap on a special artificial snow track; famous Kazakh singer Roza Rymbaeva ran her lap singing a song about Kazakhstan.

Turkey

The torch relay leg in Istanbul, held on April 3, started on Sultanahmet Square and finished in Taksim Square. On the 20 km long route the Olympic flame was carried by 80 torchbearers, the first being a figure skater Tuğba Karademir and the last — the Olympic champion in weightlifting Taner Sağır.

Russia

On April 5 the Olympic torch arrived at Saint Petersburg, Russia. The length of the torch relay route in the city was 20 km, with the start at the Victory Square and finish at the Palace Square. Among the 80 torchbearers were Olympic champions Lyubov Yegorova (cross-country skiing), Viktor Zhdanovich (fencing), Vladimir Salnikov, Alexander Popov, Sergey Kopliakov, Andrey Krylov (swimming), Alexander Dityatin (artistic gymnastics), Tatyana Kazankina (athletics), Anatoly Alyabyev (biathlon), Evgeni Plushenko, Tatiana Totmianina, Maxim Marinin, Anton Sikharulidze, Alexei Urmanov, Oksana Kazakova, Artur Dmitriev, Oleg Vasiliev (figure skating), Svetlana Zhurova (speed skating), and others; figure skating coach Tamara Moskvina; mixed martial artist Fedor Emelianenko; polar explorers Robert Swan, Artur Chilingarov; cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova; actress Alisa Freindlich and other prominent people.

United Kingdom

The torch relay leg held in London on April 6 began in Wembley, passed through the City of London, and eventually ended at the O2 in the eastern part of the city. Torchbearers included Kelly Holmes, Sir Trevor McDonald, Vanessa Mae, Kevin Pieterson and Amara Karan. The 48 km (31 mi) leg took a total of seven and a half hours to complete, and attracted protests by pro-Tibet and pro-Human Rights supporters, prompting changes to the planned route and an unscheduled move onto a bus.

France

The torch relay leg in Paris, held on April 7, began on the first level of the Eiffel Tower and finished at the Stade Charléty. French athlete Stéphane Diagana was the first torchbearer. Other torchbearers included David Douillet and Marie-José Pérec.

The relay was initially supposed to cover 28 km, but it was shortened at the demand of Chinese officials following widespread protests by pro-Tibet and human rights activists, who repeatedly attempted to disrupt, hinder or halt the procession."The Olympic torch had to be extinguished four times as protests by anti-China demonstrators caused chaos in Paris." A scheduled ceremony at the town hall was cancelled at the request of the Chinese authorities, and, also at the request of Chinese authorities, the torch finished the relay by bus instead of being carried by athletes.

United States

The torch relay's North American leg occurred in San Francisco, California on April 9. On the day of the relay, officials diverted the torch run to an unannounced route. The start was at McCovey Cove, where Norman Bellingham of the U.S. Olympic Committee gave the torch to the first torchbearer, Chinese 1992 Olympic champion swimmer Lin Li. The planned closing ceremony at Justin Herman Plaza was cancelled and instead, a ceremony was held at San Francisco International Airport, where the torch was to leave for Buenos Aires. The route changes allowed the run to avoid most of the protestors. As people found out there would be no closing ceremony at Justin Herman Plaza, there were angry reactions. One demonstrator was quoted as saying that the route changes were an effort to "thwart any organized protest that had been planned." San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, a critic of Mayor Gavin Newsom, said that it was a "cynical plan to please the Bush State Department and the Chinese government because of the incredible influence of money." Newsom, on the other hand, said he felt it was in "everyone's best interest" and that he believed people had been "afforded the right to protest and support the torch" despite the route changes. Peter Ueberroth, head of the U.S. Olympic Committee, praised the route changes, saying, "The city of San Francisco, from a global perspective, will be applauded."

Argentina

The torch then travels to Buenos Aires, Argentina, where the South American leg is to be held on April 11. Diego Maradona had been invited by sports authorities of Buenos Aires city council to become the first of 80 torchbearers. However, he is overseas and it's still unclear whether he will do that and who would be his replacement in case he doesn't. Within the list of other 79 torchbearers are Gabriela Sabatini, Carlos Espínola, Georgina Bardach, Paola Suárez and Pablo Chacón.

Schedule

The announced route will carry the torch through the following locations, from March 2008 to May 2008, before the final stages in mainland China:

Date	City	Country
March 25	Olympia	Greece
March 30	Athens
March 31	Beijing	China
April 2	Almaty	Template:KZK
April 3	Istanbul	Turkey
April 5	St.Petersburg	Russia
April 6	London	United Kingdom
April 7	Paris	France
April 9	San Francisco	United States
April 11	Buenos Aires	Argentina
April 13	Dar es Salaam	Tanzania
April 14	Muscat	Oman
April 16	Islamabad	Pakistan
April 17	New Delhi	India
April 19	Bangkok	Thailand
April 21	Kuala Lumpur	Malaysia
April 22	Jakarta	Indonesia
April 24	Canberra	Australia
April 26	Nagano	Japan
April 27	Seoul	South Korea
April 28	Pyongyang	North Korea
April 29	Ho Chi Minh City	Vietnam
May 2	Hong Kong	Hong Kong
May 3	Macau	Macau

The planned route originally included a stop in Taipei between Ho Chi Minh City and Hong Kong, but there was disagreement in Beijing and Taipei over language used to describe whether it was an international or a domestic part of the route. While the Olympic committees of mainland China and Taiwan reached initial consensus on the approach, the government of the Republic of China in Taiwan intervened, stating that this placement could be interpreted as placing Taiwan on the same level as Hong Kong and Macau, an implication it objected to. The Beijing Organizing Committee attempted to continue negotiation, but further disputes arose over the placement and usage of the flag or the anthem of the Republic of China along the 24 km torch route in Taiwan. As of 2007-09-21, after the midnight deadline for concluding the negotiations on September 20, Taiwan and Mainland China were unable to come to terms with the issue of the Torch Relay. In the end, both sides of the Taiwan Strait decided to eliminate the Taipei leg.

Mainland China route

After returning to mainland China, the relay will travel through the following provinces and cities, from May 2008 to August 2008:

1. Hainan Province (Sanya, Wuzhishan, Wanning, Haikou)
2. Guangdong Province (Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Huizhou, Shantou)
3. Fujian Province (Fuzhou, Quanzhou, Xiamen, Longyan)
4. Jiangxi Province (Ruijin, Jinggangshan, Nanchang)
5. Zhejiang Province (Wenzhou Ningbo, Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Jiaxing)
6. Shanghai
7. Jiangsu Province (Suzhou, Nantong, Taizhou, Yangzhou, Nanjing)
8. Anhui Province (Hefei, Huainan, Wuhu, Jixi, Huangshan)
9. Hubei Province (Wuhan, Yichang, Jingzhou)
10. Hunan Province (Yueyang, Changsha, Shaoshan)
11. Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (Guilin, Nanning, Baise)
12. Yunnan Province (Kunming, Lijiang, Shangri-La County)
13. Guizhou Province (Guiyang, Kaili, Zunyi)
14. Chongqing
15. Sichuan Province (Guang'an, Mianyang, Guanghan, Leshan, Zigong, Yibin, Chengdu)
16. Tibet Autonomous Region (Shannan Prefecture, Lhasa)
17. Qinghai Province (Golmud, Qinghai Hu, Xining)
18. Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (Ürümqi, Kashi, Shihezi, Changji)
19. Gansu Province (Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, Jiuquan, Tianshui, Lanzhou)
20. Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (Zhongwei, Wuzhong, Yinchuan)
21. Shaanxi Province (Yan'an, Yangling, Xianyang, Xi'an)
22. Shanxi Province (Yuncheng, Pingyao, Taiyuan, Datong)
23. Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (Hohhot, Ordos, Baotou, Chifeng)
24. Heilongjiang Province (Qiqihar, Daqing, Harbin)
25. Jilin Province (Songyuan, Changchun, Jilin, Yanji)
26. Liaoning Province (Shenyang, Benxi, Liaoyang, Anshan, Dalian)
27. Shandong Province (Yantai, Weihai, Qingdao, Rizhao, Linyi, Qufu, Tai'an, Jinan)
28. Henan Province (Shangqiu, Kaifeng, Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Anyang)
29. Hebei Province (Shijiazhuang, Qinhuangdao, Tangshan)
30. Tianjin
31. Beijing

The Torch

The Olympic Torch is based on traditional scrolls and uses a traditional Chinese design known as "Lucky Cloud". It is made from aluminum. The torch is designed to remain lit in 65 kilometre per hour winds, and in rain of up to 50 millimetres per hour. An ignition key is used to ignite and extinguish the flame. The torch is fueled by cans of propane. Each can will light the torch for 15 minutes. It is designed by a team from Lenovo Group.

The Torch is designed in reference to the traditional Chinese concept of the 5 elements that make up the entire universe.

Lanterns

The Olympic Flame is supposed to remain lit for the whole relay. When the Torch is extinguished at night, on airplanes, in bad weather, or during protests (such as the several occasions in Paris), the Olympic Flame is kept alight in a set of 10 lanterns.

Flame attendants

The Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee sent out a team of 30 flame attendants selected from the People's Armed Police to escort the flame throughout its journey. Their main job is to keep the Olympic flame alight by any means throughout the journey and to assist in transferring the flame between the torches, the lanterns and the cauldrons. They wear matching blue tracksuits and they will accompany the Torch every step of the way. Two additional teams of 40 attendants each will accompany the flame on its Mainland China route.

Controversies

• On April 7, the federal government of Australia has ruled out any Chinese involvement in security operations when the Olympic torch arrives in Australia.
• Sebastian Coe, the head of 2012 London Summer Olympics said about the flame attendants, "They are horrible. They did not speak English ... I think they were thugs." According to the China News Service, however, the attendants have received advanced training in five foreign languages (English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese) and the etiquette of various countries before their mission. Konnie Huq reportedly described them as "bloody aggressive". Also in the United Kingdom, Shadow Home Secretary David Davis expressed concerns about the flame attendants, and asked Home Secretary Jacqui Smith: “Who in the British Government authorised their presence and what checks were made as to their background?” The BBC reported that London's Metropolitan Police criticised the flame attendants for "getting in the way of officers trying to restore calm", and a member of the Police stated that "there's no way people like that should be allowed on our streets".
• During the torch's journey through Paris, Chinese attendants imposed modifications on the torch's route, and controlled the shortening or canceling of ceremonies. They also extinguished the torch on several occasions, prompting criticism from Paris' mayor, Bertrand Delanoë, who accused them of "disrupting" the passing of the torch from athlete David Douillet to another athlete.
• The German magazine Der Spiegel published an overview of the controversies, and added its own opinion by describing the flame attendants as "sinister".

Responding to the controversies, the International Olympic Committee has stated that the flame attendants' role is "100% normal".

Protests

It has been suggested that this section be split out into another article. (Discuss)

Inception

Following the recent unrest in Tibet, three members of Reporters Without Borders, including Robert Ménard, breached security and attempted to disrupt a speech by Liu Qi, the head of Beijing's Olympic organising committee during the torch lighting ceremony in Olympia, Greece. The People's Republic of China called this a "disgraceful" attempt to sabotage the Olympics. On 30 March 2008 in Athens, during ceremonies marking the handing over of the torch from Greek officials to organizers of the Beijing games, demonstrators shouted 'Free Tibet' and unfurled banners; some 10 of the 15 protesters were taken into police detention. After the hand-off, protests continued internationally, with particularly violent uprisings in Nepal.

Istanbul

Uyghurs living in Turkey protested Chinese treatment of their compatriots living in Xinjiang. They were promptly arrested by the police.

Saint-Petersburg

Although two demonstrations had been cancelled by the authorities, small protests occurred. Nonetheless the Yabloko-party wanted to protest outside of the Chinese consolate. All protesters have been arrested.

London

Of the 80 torch-bearers in London, Sir Steve Redgrave, who started the relay, mentioned to the media that he had received e-mailed pleas to boycott the event and could "see why they would like to make an issue" of it. Francesca Martinez and Richard Vaughan refused to carry the torch, while Konnie Huq decided to carry it and also speak out against China. The pro-Tibetan MP Norman Baker asked all bearers to reconsider. Amid pressure from both directions, Prime Minister Gordon Brown welcomed the torch outside 10 Downing Street without holding or touching it.

The London relay saw the torch surrounded by what the BBC described as "a mobile protective ring." Protests began as soon as Redgrave started the event, leading to at least thirty-five arrests. In Ladbroke Grove a demonstrator attempted to snatch the torch from Konnie Huq in a momentary struggle, and in a separate incident, a fire extinguisher was set off near the torch. The Chinese ambassador carried the torch through Chinatown after an unpublicized change to the route amid security concerns. Along many stretches of the route the torch was placed on a bus amid security concerns and efforts to evade the protesters. In an effort to counter the pro-Tibet protesters and show their support for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, more than 2,000 Chinese also gathered on the torch route and demonstrated with signs, banners and Chinese flags. A large number of supporters were concentrated in Trafalgar Square, displaying the Olympic slogan "One World, One Dream".

Paris

Paris City officials had announced plans to greet the Olympic flame with peaceful protest when the torch was to reach the French capital. The city government attached a banner reading "Paris defends human rights throughout the world" to the City Hall, in an attempt to promote values "of all humanity and of human rights."

Members from Reporters Without Borders turned out in large numbers to protest. An estimated 3,000 French police protected the Olympic torch relay as it departed from the Eiffel Tower and crisscrossed Paris amid threat of protests. Widespread violent pro-Tibet protests, including an attempt by more than one demonstrator to extinguish the flame with water or fire extinguishers, prompted relay authorities to put out the flame five times (according to the police authorities in Paris) and load the torch onto a bus, at the demand of Chinese officials. This was later denied by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, despite video footage broadcast by French television network France 2 which showed Chinese flame attendants extinguishing the torch. Backup flames are with the relay at all times to relight the torch. French judoka and torchbearer David Douillet expressed his annoyance at the Chinese flame attendants who extinguished the torch which he was about to hand over to another athlete: "I understand they're afraid of everything, but this is just annoying. They extinguished the flame despite the fact that there was no risk, and they could see it and they knew it. I don't know why they did it."

Many of the protestors were organized and flew specially to Paris to disrupt the relay. China's state-owned media reported that a blogger claimed that he has been offered money to join in the protests, but refused. Chinese officials canceled the torch relay ceremony amidst disruptions, including a Tibetan flag flown from a window in the City Hall by Green Party officials.

The Chinese officials decided they would not stop here because they were upset by Parisian citizens expressing their support for human rights.

Reporters Without Borders organised several symbolic protests, including scaling the Eiffel Tower to hang a protest banner from it, and hanging an identical banner from the Notre Dame cathedral.

Several hundred pro-Tibet protesters gathered at the Trocadéro with banners and Tibetan flags, and remained there for a peaceful protest, never approaching the torch relay itself. Among them was Jane Birkin, who spoke to the media about the "lack of freedom of speech" in China.

French members of Parliament and other French politicians also organised a protest. All political parties in Parliament—UMP, Socialists, New Centre, Communists, Democratic Movement (centre) and Greens—jointly requested a pause in the National Assembly's session, which was granted, so that MPs could step outside and unfurl a banner which read "Respect for Human Rights in China". The coach containing the torch drove past the National Assembly and the assembled protesting MPs, who shouted "Freedom for Tibet!" several times as it passed.

San Francisco

On April 1, 2008, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved a resolution addressing human rights concerns when the Beijing Olympic torch arrives in San Francisco on 9 April. The resolution would welcome the torch with "alarm and protest at the failure of China to meet its past solemn promises to the international community, including the citizens of San Francisco, to cease the egregious and ongoing human rights abuses in China and occupied Tibet." On April 8, numerous protests were planned including one at the city's United Nations Plaza led by actor Richard Gere and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Some advocates for Tibet, Darfur, and the spiritual sect Falun Gong, planned to protest the April 9 arrival of the torch in San Francisco. China had already requested the torch route in San Francisco be shortened. On April 7, 2008, two days prior to the actual torch relay, three activists carrying Tibetan flags scaled the suspension cables of the Golden Gate Bridge to unfurl two banners, one saying "One World, One Dream. Free Tibet", and the other, "Free Tibet '08". Among them was San Francisco resident Laurel Sutherlin, who spoke to the local TV station KPIX-CBS5 live from a cellphone, urging the International Olympic Committee to ask China not to allow the torch to go through Tibet. "Sutherlin said he was worried that the torch's planned route through Tibet would lead to more arrests and Chinese officials would use force to stifle dissent." The three activists and five supporters face charges related to trespassing, conspiracy and causing a public nuisance.

The torch was lit at a park outside at AT&T Park at about 1:17 p.m. PDT (20:17 UTC), briefly held aloft by Chinese Olympic officials. The relay descended into confusion as the first runner in the elaborately planned relay disappeared into a warehouse on a waterfront pier where it stayed for a half-an-hour. Meanwhile pro-Tibet protesters, some of which flew in from pro-Tibet organizations, clashed with thousands of pro-China demonstrators, some of whom had been bussed into the city. It was reported on RTHK that supporters of the Olympics outnumber protesters three to one. At one point pro-China demonstrators tore down a large pro-Tibet sign hanging on the Ferry Building and when a man tried to stop them a swarm of Chinese surrounded him. When another man tried to grab one of their flags someone grabbed his throat and another person punched him in the face before police stopped the violence. Around 2 p.m. PDT (21:00 UTC), the torch resurfaced about two miles (3 km) away from the stadium along Van Ness Avenue, a heavily trafficked thoroughfare that was not on official route plans. Television reports showed the flame flanked by motorcycles and uniformed police officers. Two torchbearers carried the flame running slowly behind a truck and surrounded by Olympic security guards. During the torch relay, two torchbearers, one in a wheelchair, managed to display Tibetan flags in protest, resulting in their ejection from the relay. The closing ceremony at Justin Herman Plaza was canceled due to the presence of large numbers of protesters at the site. The torch run ended with a final stretch through San Francisco's Marina district and was then moved by bus to San Francisco International Airport for a makeshift closing ceremony at the terminal, from which the free media was excluded. San Jose Mercury News described the "deceiving" event as "a game of Where's Waldo, played against the landscape of a lovely city."

Buenos Aires

Argentine activists said they planned surprise actions in Buenos Aires when the Olympic torch passes through there on Friday. Organizers told a news conference they would not try to snuff out the torch's flame, as demonstrators had in Paris and London. "I want to announce that we will not put out the Olympic torch," said pro-Tibet activist Jorge Carcavallo. "We'll be carrying out surprise actions throughout the city of Buenos Aires, but all of these will be peaceful." Among other activities, protesters are organizing an alternative march that will go from the Obelisk to the city hall. According to a representative from the NGO 'Human Rights Torch Relay', their objective is to "show the contradiction between the Olympic Games and the presence of widespread human rights violations in China"

Despite these announcements, the city government has designed a complex security operative to protect the torch relay, involving 1200 police officers and 3000 other collaborators, including public employees and volunteers.

New Delhi

Indian national football captain, Baichung Bhutia refused to take part in the Indian leg of the torch relay. This came in wake of the storming of the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi by Tibetan protesters. Wary of further protests, the Indian authorities have decided to shorten the route of the relay in New Delhi. Indian Bollywood film star Aamir Khan states on his personal blog that the "Olympic Games do not belong to China" and confirms taking part in the torch relay "with a prayer in heart for the people of Tibet, and for all people across the world who are victims of human rights violations".

Canberra

Following the events in Olympia, there were reports that China requested permission to deploy People's Liberation Army personnel along the relay route to protect the flame. Australian authorities stated that such a request, if it were to be made, would be refused. Chinese officials labeled it a rumor.

Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, the League of Social Democrats and other members of the pro-democracy camp are planning to protest during the relay. They want accountability for the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 and the implementation of democracy in Hong Kong. These organizations support the Olympics and have pledged not to steal the torch or extinguish the flame.

Environmental impact

Wired estimates the torch relay will emit a total of 5500 tons of carbon dioxide, mainly from the air travel required.

Chinese media coverage

Mainland Chinese media coverage of the torch relay has been distinct in a number of ways from coverage elsewhere. Western reporters in Beijing have described Chinese media coverage as partial and censored (for example when Chinese media did not broadcast Reporters Without Borders' disruption of the torch lighting ceremony), whereas Chinese netizens have in turn accused Western media coverage of being biased.

In response to pro-Tibet and pro-human rights protests during the relays, the Chinese media invariably focused on the more disruptive protestors, refering for example to "a very small number of 'Tibet independence' secessionists and a handful of so-called human rights-minded NGO activists" intent on "disrupting and sabotaging the Beijing Olympic Games". By contrast with Western media coverage, there was no mention of largely peaceful protest, and no interviewing of protestors. Chinese media did, however, publish articles about crowds supporting the torch relay, an aspect which has tended to be downplayed in Western media.

Xinhua and CCTV quoted relay spectators who condemned the protests, to a greater extent than most Western media, but did not quote any alternate viewpoints, providing no coverage of support for the protests by some ordinary citizens in Western countries. It quoted athletes who expressed pride at taking part in the relays, to a greater extent than Western media, but not those who, like Marie-José Pérec, expressed understanding and support for the protestors. The Beijing Organising Committee for the Games mentioned the "smiling faces of the elderly, children and the artists on the streets", of cheering and supportive Londoners. Xinhua said that protestors were "radicals" who "trampled human rights" and whose activities were condemned by "the people of the world who cordially love the Olympic spirit".

Chinese media have also reported on Jin Jing, whom the official Chinese torch relay website described as "heroic" and an "angel", whereas Western media gave her little mention - despite a Chinese claim that "Chinese Paralympic athlete Jin Jing has garnered much attention from the media".

References

This article has an unclear citation style. The references used may be made clearer with a different or consistent style of citation and footnoting. (Learn how and when to remove this message)

1. "Handicapped Jin receives hero's welcome for protecting Olympic torch in Paris". Xinhua News Agency. 2008-04-10.
2. "Beijing 2008: BOCOG Announces Olympic Torch Relay Route". International Olympic Committee. 2007-04-26. Retrieved 2007-04-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
3. Libby Purves in The Times, 8 April 2008
4. Simon Jenkins in The Sunday Times, 6 April 2008
5. "Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay Planned Route and Torch Design unveiled". BOCOG. 2007-04-26. Retrieved 2007-04-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
6. 'No change in Tibet torch rally route', Times of India, Retrieved on 10 April 2008.
7. Olympic Flame begins relay in Greece at the Official Website of the Torch Relay
8. Template:Ru icon Kazakhstan: Citius! Altius! Fortius!
9. Template:Ru icon Olympic Torch Relay Starts in Kazakhstan
10. Template:Tr icon Meşaleyi Karademir taşıdı
11. "Beijing Olympic Flame Lands in Istanbul Today".
12. "Six detained in Olympic torch relay".
13. "Flame leaves Istanbul for St. Petersburg".
14. Template:Ru icon Olympic Torch route in St. Petersburg with all torchbearers and lap definitions (.doc file)
15. Template:Ru icon Olympic Torch Will Be Carried By Drouz, Freindlich and Evgeni Plushenko
16. Template:Ru icon Олимпийский огонь несли
17. "www.london.gov.uk/torchrelay/london/index.jsp".
18. "BBC NEWS". {{cite web}}: Text "Clashes along Olympic torch route" ignored (help); Text "UK" ignored (help)
19. "La flamme olympique : le parcours heure par heure (du 06/04 au 07/04)", Nouvel Observateur, April 8, 2008
20. "China condemns Olympic torch disruptions", France 24, April 8, 2008
21. Olympic Torch Snuffed Out In Paris by SkyNews - Monday, April 7 03:39 pm
22. "Paris protests cut short Olympic torch relay", France 24, April 8, 2008
23. "Olympic torch relay concludes in San Francisco". The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Torch Relay. 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2008-04-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
24. ^ "Torch leaves San Francisco after surprise route designed to thwart protesters". San Francisco Chronicle. 2008-04-09. Retrieved 2008-04-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
25. "Argentine celebrity Maradona could carry Olympic torch". Xinhua. 2008-04-02. Retrieved 2008-04-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
26. "Maradona paseará por Buenos Aires la antorcha de los Juegos Olímpicos" (in Spanish). La Capital. 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2008-04-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
27. "Taiwan rejects China's torch relay plans". USA Today. 2007-04-26. Retrieved 2007-04-26. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
28. "Taipei Times".
29. "Taiwan, China Fail to Reach Agreement on Olympic Torch Route".
30. Template:Zh icon 示威不斷　聖火難傳 境外是否續運 奧委周五定奪
31. "La Chine condamne les troubles sur le parcours de la flamme", france 24, April 8, 2008
32. ^ Template:Zh icon "千中選一："中國聖火護衛隊"惹關注".
33. "China's 'flame attendants' and world's most guarded relay". guardian.co.uk. 2008-04-07. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
34. ^ "Torch to be guarded by Australians only". news.theage.com.au. 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2008-04-08.
35. "Questions raised over mysterious 'men in blue'", Jerome Taylor and Clifford Coonan, The Independent, April 8, 2008
36. "Unmasked: Chinese guardians of Olympic torch", The Times, April 9, 2008
37. "Tracksuited guardians of the flame", BBC, April 9, 2008
38. "Sinister Keepers of the Flame: Controversy over 'Thuggish' Chinese Olympic Torch Guards", Alexander Schwabe, Der Spiegel, April 9, 2008
39. "Delanoë: le passage de la flamme à Paris, "mouvement fort" en faveur du Tibet", AFP, April 8, 2008
40. Video coverage by France 2, April 7, 2008
41. "Sinister Keepers of the Flame: Controversy over 'Thuggish' Chinese Olympic Torch Guards", Alexander Schwabe, Der Spiegel, April 9, 2008
42. "Tracksuited guardians of the flame", BBC, April 9, 2008
43. "Robert Ménard, le grain de sable des JO", Le Monde, April 8, 2008
44. "Olympic flame begins journey to China".
45. "Demonstrators disrupt Olympic torch lighting".
46. "Protests disrupt Olympic torch ceremony".
47. "Torch protest 'disgraceful', says China".
48. "China raps Olympic torch protest".
49. "Tibet Protesters Try to Disrupt Olympic Ceremony".
50. "Violence in Nepal as Tibetans protest Olympics".
51. "Anti-China protest targets Olympic torch ceremony".
52. Uyghurs protest Olympic Torch in Istanbul - NTDTV on YouTube
53. Lone Russian protestor arrested at Olympic flame relay
54. Olympic flame crosses Russia's imperial capital
55. ^ "Redgrave receives pleas on Tibet". BBC News. 2008-04-03. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
56. ^ Horne, Mark. "Logan vows to run Olympic gauntlet". news.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
57. Kelly, Jon (2008-04-03). "Burning debate over relay boycott". BBC News. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
58. ^ "Clashes mar Olympic torch relay". BBC News. 2008-04-06. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
59. "Jowell defends torch parade role".
60. "Protests of China make Olympic torch relay an obstacle course".
61. Template:Zh icon 特拉法加广场护圣火归来
62. Template:Zh icon 伦敦迎奥运火炬照片
63. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4ztb8_la-flamme-olympique-chahutee-a-pari_news
64. "Handicapped Jin receives hero's welcome for protecting Olympic torch in Paris".
65. "Paris to greet Olympic flame with protest--mayor".
66. "Paris City Hall and athletes to highlight human rights during Olympic torch relay".
67. "Angry protest as torch reaches London".
68. Template:Fr icon"Flamme olympique: ce qui s'est vraiment passé à Paris", L'Express, April 8, 2008
69. "Paris protests force cancellation of torch relay". msnbc.com. 2008-04-07. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
70. "China condemns Olympic torch disruptions", France 24, April 8, 2008
71. "Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Reports of extinguished flame not true", April 8, 2008
72. Video coverage by France 2 (at 00:14)
73. Video coverage by France 2 (at 02:21)
74. "Olympic torch hit by protests during Paris leg".
75. David Douillet, interviewed by France 2, April 7, 2008
76. Template:Fr icon"A Paris, la flamme olympique achève son parcours à l'abri des regards", Le Monde, April 7, 2008
77. "Handicapped girl wins respect for protecting sacred flame".
78. "Paris torch relay canceled". Associated Press. Sports Illustrated. 2008-04-07. Retrieved 2008-04-07. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
79. Template:Fr icon"Flamme olympique fortement chahutee". TF1-LCI. 2008-04-07. Retrieved 2008-04-07. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
80. "China condemns Olympic torch disruptions", France 24, April 8, 2008
81. Template:Fr icon"La flamme de passage à Paris", official website of the mayor of Paris
82. Reporters Without Borders, April 7, 2008
83. Template:Fr icon"A Paris, la flamme olympique achève son parcours à l'abri des regards", Le Monde, April 7, 2008
84. "De la tour Eiffel à Charléty, la flamme dans la tourmente à Paris", Libération, April 7, 2008
85. "La déroute de la flamme olympique à Paris", Le Figaro, April 7, 2008
86. "Le chemin de croix de la flamme à Paris", Le Soir, April 7, 2008
87. "La flamme : deuxième épisode", Le Journal du dimanche, April 7, 2008
88. Template:Fr icon"Des députés crient "Liberté pour le Tibet" devant une flamme... invisible", AFP, 7 avril 2008
89. "SF To Greet Olympic Torch With 'Alarm And Protest'".
90. "Video:SF To Greet Olympic Torch With 'Alarm'".
91. Tutu, Gere, to protest; San Francisco alters torch route, M&C News, April 8, 2008.
92. "Bay City to protest Olympic torch".
93. "China wants San Francisco Olympic torch's route shortened".
94. "Torch protesters scale Golden Gate Bridge". KGO-TV. 2008-04-07. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
95. "Pro-Tibet protesters climb Golden Gate Bridge tower". San Francisco Chronicle. 2008-04-07. Retrieved 2008-04-07. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
96. "Olympic Torch Protesters Scale Golden Gate Bridge". CBS5. 2008-04-07. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
97. "Climbers scale Golden Gate Bridge to protest Olympic torch run". CBC Canada. 2008-04-07. Retrieved 2008-04-07. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
98. San Francisco Olympic torch relay gets off to chaotic start, MarketWatch, April 9, 2008.
99. ^ "Torch leaves San Francisco after surprise route designed to thwart protesters". San Francisco Chronicle. 2008-04-09. Retrieved 2008-04-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "thwart" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
100. NBC Torch Relay: Bloggers Gets Close To The Action, nbc
101. "RHTK radio on internet".
102. "Torch leaves S.F. after surprise route shift".
103. Protests and Cheers Along Torch Route, The New York Times, April 9, 2008.
104. "Olympic Torch Departs SF After Wild Ride". CBS Broadcasting, Inc. April 10 2008. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
105. "Olympic flame relays have always been political". San Jose Mercury News. 2008-04-09. Retrieved 2008-04-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
106. "Protests in San Francisco before Olympic torch run".
107. "JUEGOS-Planean protesta paso antorcha olímpica en Buenos Aires".
108. "Antorcha olímpica llega a la ciudad de Buenos Aires".
109. "India's soccer captain refuses to join in Beijing Olympic torch run in Indian capital".
110. "Wary of protests, IOA shortens Olympic torch route".
111. "Aamir Khan's blog: Olympic Torch Relay".
112. "China wants army to oversee torch relay in Australia".
113. "Chinese army will not be monitoring Aust Olympic torch leg: officials".
114. Template:Zh icon PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denies the Rumor that China Wants to Send Troop to Australia to Protect the Olympics Torch Relay
115. http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/04/olympic-torch-e.html
116. "Sarkozy n'exclut pas un boycott de la cérémonie des JO", Europe 1, March 25, 2008
117. "Un allumage agité pour la flamme des JO", Radio Suisse Romande, March 25, 2008
118. "Beijing Olympic official strongly condemns disruption of torch relay in Paris", Xinhua, April 8, 2008
119. "Tibetan separatists try to sabotage Olympic torch relay in U.S.", Xinhua, April 10, 2008
120. "Crowds gather to show support for Olympic torch relay" Xinhua, April 10, 2008
121. "French Olympic chief, spectators condemn disruption of Olympic torch relay in Paris", Xinhua, April 8, 2008
122. "Netizens worldwide condemn violent protests at Olympic torch relay", April 8, 2008
123. "Chinese Americans criticize torch relay disturbance", CCTV, April 10, 2008
124. "Ugandan track queen steps up training for Olympic torch relay", Xinhua, April 7, 2008
125. Marie-José Pérec interviewed by France 24, April 7, 2008
126. "Ambassador Fu: Olympic torch spreads message of peace to the world", official torch relay website, April 7, 2008
127. "BOOC thanks overseas supporters for torch relay, criticizes radical saboteurs", Xinhua, April 10, 2008
128. "Handicapped Jin receives hero's welcome for protecting Olympic torch in Paris", Xinhua, April 10, 2008
129. "Touche: Assailant meets match", Lydia Chen, Shanghai Daily, April 9, 2008
130. "Handicapped girl wins respect for protecting sacred flame", CCTV, April 10, 2008
131. "Photos: Heroic torchbearer Jin Jing back in Beijing", official torch relay website, April 9, 2008
132. "Chinese angel comes home", official torch relay website, April 10, 2008
133. "Jin: Protecting the torch is my duty", official torch relay website, April 10, 2008

External links

Official sites

• Official site of the Beijing 2008 Torch relay
• Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay in London
• Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay in Hong Kong

Other sites

• Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Torch Relay coverage by Community-online.com
• Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay Google Map

Media

• Video on YouTube Olympic Torch Relay in London - Protester tries to extinguish torch.
• Video on YouTube Olympic Torch Relay in London - Protester encounters a Chinese security official.
• Video on YouTube Olympic Torch Relay in Paris - Protester getting close to the Olympic Torch.

• Misplaced Pages neutral point of view disputes from April 2008
• Current events from April 2008
• 2008 Summer Olympics
• 2008 in Australia
• 2008 in China
• 2008 in France
• 2008 in Greece
• 2008 in Hong Kong
• 2008 in India
• 2008 in Russia
• 2008 in Turkey
• 2008 in the United States
• 2008 in the United Kingdom