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NEWS ABOUT: Olympic torch

Olympic torch stories: 44 news summaries

1 - 20 of 44 Stories | 1 2 3 Next >>

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 2010 Olympic Torch 
 Looks Familiar 
 ... to Potheads 

Winter sports design looks like a joint to many

May 21, 09 12:22 PM CDT
(Newser) - The 2010 Olympic torch gets attention wherever it goes, much of it from people who look at the sleek metal shape and see a joint, the Toronto Star reports. The resemblance is probably unintentional——the design is supposed to look like the tracks skis and skates leave on snow... More »

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Michael Phelps • marijuana • Olympic torch • Olympic athletes • 2010 Vancouver Olympics

(Newser) - Those shocked by China’s bristly response to Olympic protests and criticisms would do well to remember some history, Orville Schell writes for the New York Review of Books. After what the Chinese call a "century of humiliation" at the hands of the West and Japan, the nation... More »

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China • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Tibet • Chinese • nationalism • Olympic torch

 China Reopens Tibetan Tourism 

Torch relay demonstrated stability, state media says

Jun 25, 08 12:13 PM CDT
(Newser) - China is allowing foreign tourists to enter Tibet for the first time since March protests, sources tell the BBC. The Olympic torch’s smooth reception in Lhasa over the weekend means "Tibet is safe,” a Tibetan tourism director tells state media. "We welcome the domestic and foreign... More »

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China • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Tibet • Olympic torch • Xinhua • Lhasa • torch relay

 Olympic Torch Arrives in Tibet 

Amid heavy security, China slams Dalai Lama

Jun 21, 08 6:17 AM CDT
(Newser) - Under tight security, the Olympic torch made its way through Tibet’s capital in the most controversial leg of its worldwide journey—a jaunt that ended with Chinese criticism of the Dalai Lama, Reuters reports. “We will be able to totally smash the splittist schemes of the Dalai Lama... More »

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China • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Tibet • Dalai Lama • Olympic torch • torch relay

China Orders Muslims to Stay Home for Torch Relay

Beijing blames community for independence attacks

Jun 16, 08 9:06 AM CDT
(Newser) - Chinese officials have told China's Muslim Uighur to stay in their homes and watch the Olympic torch on TV when it winds its way through the troubled western region of Xinjiang, Reuters reports. Beijing blames the Uighur for a series of attacks that are part of a push for an... More »

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China • Muslims • Beijing • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Muslim • Olympic torch • torch relay • Xinjiang

China Orders 3 Days of Mourning, Will Halt Torch 

Toll hits 32,500 dead, more missing as search continues

May 18, 08 1:02 PM CDT
(Newser) - As the death toll in Monday's 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit 32,500, China declared 3 days of national mourning beginning tomorrow, reports Reuters. The Olympic torch relay will pause for the duration. Rescue efforts are still under way in devastated Sichuan province, but hopes are waning of recovering any... More »

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China • death toll • Hu Jintao • Olympic torch • torch relay • China earthquake

 Olympic Flame Lit Atop Everest 

Display designed to counter protests

May 7, 08 11:04 PM CDT
(Newser) - Chinese and Tibetan climbers lit an OIympic torch at the top of Mount Everest today, the BBC reports. The climbers unfurled Chinese and Olympic flags and chanted slogans for TV cameras beaming their images live onto the nation's TVs. The Chinese hope the elaborate stunt will counter the damage from... More »

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2008 Beijing Olympics • Tibet • Olympic torch • Tibetan independence • Mt. Everest • Olympic flame • Tibetan protesters

 Sky-High Internet Café Opens 

Everest office built to ensure communications as Olympic torch passes

May 6, 08 4:36 PM CDT
(Newser) - The Olympic torch is bringing more than controversy on its round-the-world trek—it’s also responsible for the world’s highest Internet café, the People's Daily reports. China Mobile built the communications center at Mount Everest's 17,000-foot-high base camp to ensure communications for relay teams as the torch scales... More »

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Internet • Olympic torch • China Mobile • Mount Everest • Internet cafes

 Torch Embarks on
 Calmer China Tour 

Citizens vow not to protest as stars carry flame

May 3, 08 3:30 PM CDT
(Newser) - The Olympic torch flickered in mainland China today in what will likely be a respite from its troubled worldwide tour. Security measures are in place for the relay, but Chinese citizens aren't in a protesting mood, the AP reports. “Even if no police were here, we would protect the... More »

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China • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Olympic torch • Olympic protests • torch relay

 Torch Gets Huge Welcome
 in Hong Kong 

But cheers drown out protests in first Chinese leg of relay

May 2, 08 5:18 AM CDT
(Newser) - Thousands of people waving the Chinese flag cheered the Olympic torch on its relay through Hong Kong, shouting down scattered Tibetan protesters in their midst, the BBC reports. There were a few scuffles as the torch wound its way through the streets in the first leg of the torch relay... More »

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China • Hong Kong • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Olympic torch • Olympic protests • torch relay

Mia Farrow Quizzed at
Hong Kong Airport

Activist granted entry ahead of tomorrow's Olympic relay

May 1, 08 5:01 AM CDT
(Newser) - Activist actress Mia Farrow was allowed into Hong Kong today after authorities questioned her and told her not to disrupt tomorrow's Olympic torch relay, AP reports. Farrow is an outspoken critic of China's policy on Darfur and plans a speech tomorrow night on the issue. Several activists have been barred... More »

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China • Darfur • Hong Kong • Mia Farrow • Olympic torch • torch relay

 Torch Back in China 
 After Tumultuous Tour 

No protests, but advocates deported and barred ahead of Friday's Hong Kong relay

Apr 30, 08 12:00 PM CDT
(Newser) - There were no protests in Hong Kong today as the Olympic torch returned to Chinese soil. But reports were rampant of advocates and would-be protesters being deported or barred from entering the country, the New York Times reports. China says it’s dedicated to allowing peaceful demonstrations, but yesterday deported... More »

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China • Hong Kong • Olympic torch • protesters • torch relay

 Nepal Boots 
 Pro-Tibet US Climber 

American banned from Everest for two years over protest banner

Apr 29, 08 12:45 PM CDT
(Newser) - Nepal deported an American climber yesterday, the Times of India reports, after police at a Mount Everest base camp found a pro-Tibetan banner in his backpack. Nepal, staunchly pro-China, has enacted restrictions—and authorized security forces to use guns—to prevent protests when the Olympic torch ascends the world's tallest... More »

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China • Nepal • Tibet • Olympic torch • Mount Everest • protesters

 Thousands Cheer
 Torch in N. Korea 

Olympic flame hailed with songs and dancing for a change

Apr 28, 08 5:28 AM CDT
(Newser) - Tens of thousands of North Koreans took to the streets to herald the arrival of the Olympic torch today, marking a radically different greeting for the often-harried flame, Reuters reports. People waved North Korean and Chinese flags, danced, cheered, and sang military songs. The welcome contrasted sharply with waves of... More »

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North Korea • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Pyongyang • Tibet • Olympic torch • torch relay

 Torch Protests 
 Continue in S. Korea 

Anti- and pro-China factions face off

Apr 27, 08 10:30 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Olympic torch again met with a clash of protesters today as it arrived in South Korea, Reuters reports. Some South Koreans are angered by Beijing’s human rights record, but the majority are pro-Chinese, wearing their country’s flag and chanting, “No politics, only Olympics.” Despite 8,... More »

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China • North Korea • South Korea • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Olympic torch • Olympic protests • torch relay

Torch Relay Fires Up
Thousands in Japan

Riot police block flame as protesters pepper pro-China crowd

Apr 25, 08 8:04 PM CDT
(Newser) - A pro-China crowd peppered with protesters welcomed the Olympic torch relay in Japan today, BBC reports. Japan's national baseball manager kicked off the run in Nagano with 40 riot cops on each side, mostly blocking the view of thousands of onlookers. Cops nabbed one protester for trying to grab the... More »

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China • Japan • Tibet • Olympic torch • Olympic protests

Australia Spirits Away
Torch Ahead of Relay

Protesters do their thing anyway

Apr 23, 08 10:12 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Olympic torch arrived Down Under today, but was immediately whisked off to a secret location to avoid protesters, the AP reports. Tomorrow’s torch relay in Canberra will be open to the public—unlike those in Jakarta and New Delhi—but the route will be lined with yard-high fences... More »

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China • Australia • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Tibet • Sydney • Kevin Rudd • Olympic torch • Olympic protests • torch relay

 Indonesia Torch Run Stays
 Inside Stadium 

15-mile relay scaled back to a few laps before hand-picked crowd

Apr 22, 08 10:56 AM CDT
(Newser) - The Olympic torch passed through Indonesia today with little incident and less fanfare, the BBC reports. What was originally supposed to be a 15-mile relay was abbreviated to a few laps around a Jakarta stadium before a crowd of 5,000 carefully credentialed spectators. Outside, police broke up a pro-Tibet... More »

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Indonesia • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Jakarta • Olympic torch • Olympic protests • torch relay

Sarkozy Acts as Chinese Mount Anti-French Protests

President apologizes
to Paralympian fencer

Apr 22, 08 9:18 AM CDT
(Newser) - Two weeks after the Olympic torch relay in Paris, anti-French backlash in China is gaining steam. Rare demonstrations on the streets of Chinese cities, seemingly with the government's tacit approval, have seen French flags burned and defaced with swastikas. As the nations' relationship deteriorates, Nicolas Sarkozy has been forced to... More »

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China • Nicolas Sarkozy • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Paris • Olympic torch • Olympic protests • torch relay

Nepal OKs Deadly Force
Against Torch Protesters

 Flame will ascend Everest next month

Apr 20, 08 4:35 PM CDT
(Newser) - Nepal has plans for protesters intent on disrupting the Olympic flame's ascent up Mount Everest, the AP reports. An official today authorized the use of deadly force "to stop any protest on the mountain using whatever means necessary." Climbers are scheduled to reach the summit in the border... More »

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China • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Nepal • Tibet • Himalayas • Olympic torch • Mount Everest • Kathmandu • Olympic protests

1 - 20 of 44 Stories | 1 2 3 Next >>


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