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| Europe | |
| Norway: Athletics boss worried about Olympic torch relay | |
| 2008-04-07 | |
| The head of Norway's sports confederation, alarmed by the protests surrounding the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay, wants the International Olympic Committee to consider halting the event. Confederation president Tove Paule claimed the IOC is worried as well. The torch relay has become a target for demonstrators protesting the Chinese authorities' recent crackdown in Tibet and alleged human rights abuses. When the torch was run through London on Sunday, some protesters tried to extinguish it, claiming China is unworthy of hosting the upcoming summer Olympics in Beijing. Demonstrators, claiming that human rights abuses defy the very spirit of the Olympic Games, were also expected to disrupt the torch relay when it arrived in Paris on Monday. Chaos ensued and the Olympic torch was extinguished and interrupted. Paule, who functions as head of the Norwegian Olympic Committee in her role as president of the Norwegian Confederation of Sports (Norges Idrettsforbund), is in Beijing herself attending meetings of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC). She said the Chinese censored TV coverage of the London protests, and that she found it upsetting when her TV screen "went black." She was aware, though, of what was happening in London and said that it was "very sad." The torch relay, she noted on national radio Monday morning, is meant to reflect the "peace and joy" of the Olympics, "that we stand together."
Gutsy call to make while in the shadow of the Forbidden City. It was unclear whether Paule's call would be heeded. ANOC President and IOC member Mario Vázquez Raña claimed his organisation did not have any major concerns as far as the upcoming Games were concerned, and that he expected "even fewer Vázquez Raña claimed he had seen "many improvements" in the city of Beijing over the years, and that he was sure the Games had contributed to that progress. He hoped the Beijing Games would "serve humanity, allowing for greater understanding between the peoples of the world," and "be of great benefit to China." Yep, I'm getting that 1936 vibe ... Some No[r]wegian sports officials and former athletes selected to run with the torch claimed it was important that the relay continue, calling it a symbol that should transcend politics. Paule herself has indicated she opposes a boycott of the Olympics or even just its opening ceremonies. The Chinese authorities, meanwhile, showed no signs of remorse over their crackdown on dissent. They branded the protests against the torch relay as a form of "disgusting" sabotage by "Tibetan separatists." Not, of course, to be confused with "Han supremicists". | |
| Posted by:mrp |
| #1 FOX NEWS AM > reports that pro-TIBET, anti-PRC/China demonstrators in FRANCE have twice succeeded in putting out the OLYMPIC TORCH FLAME + delayed passage along the Olympic route. TORCH + RUNNERS/ESCORTS had to run inside a bus to protect relighted Flame? + escape/divert from angry protesters??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-04-07 19:20 |