2008 Beijing Olympics
2008 Beijing Olympics news stories
San Francisco's bait-and-switch approach keeps Olympic flame's tour mainly peaceful
San Francisco Chronicle Apr 9, 08 4:24 PM CDT
(Newser) -
Throngs of pro- and anti-China demonstrators in San Francisco forced drastic changes in the Olympic torch's tour of the city, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Officials bused the flame and relay runners from the bayside opening ceremony miles across town; after heading west toward the Golden Gate Bridge, the convoy turned south and headed for the airport.
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Brown insists he's not boycotting, will go to closing ceremony
BBC Apr 9, 08 3:36 PM CDT
(Newser) -
British PM Gordon Brown will not attend the Beijing Olympics’ opening ceremony, the BBC reports, though his office made clear it was not a boycott. Brown said he never intended to go to the opening and emphasized that that he will be present at the closing ceremony for the torch handoff—London will host the 2012 Games.
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Sinister keepers of the Olympic flame barred from Australia relay
Der Spiegel Apr 9, 08 2:02 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Olympic flame’s mysterious Chinese guardians have been rubbing Europe the wrong way, Der Spiegel reports. The men in the powder blue track suits haven’t hesitated to get rough, and local authorities wonder why they’re necessary. “They are horrible,” said London’s Olympic Committee Chairman. “I think they were thugs.” The men reportedly hail from China’s special forces.
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Security tightens as protesters hit streets for relay
Associated Press Apr 9, 08 4:54 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The Olympic torch winds its way through San Francisco today and authorities are bracing for big trouble from protesters who have already hit the streets, AP reports. The torch was buffeted by protests in London and Paris, where the relay was cut short, and the worst may be yet to come as Left Coast pro-Tibet activists harry the flame. Officers will accompany the torch every second of its six-mile route through the city—which is likely to be changed at the last minute.
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Protesters absent amid heavy security; torch in hiding before tomorrow's city tour
San Francisco Chronicle Apr 8, 08 3:26 PM CDT
(Newser) -
The Olympic flame landed in San Francisco early this morning, accompanied by Chinese officials and protected by riot-ready security, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The 3:40am landing was followed by a round of photographs before a quick retreat to an undisclosed location, where the torch will await tomorrow's relay around the city.
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IOC to meet in Beijing to discuss massive protests
AFP Apr 8, 08 4:33 AM CDT
(Newser) -
The International Olympic Committee has scheduled an extraordinary meeting to discuss whether the remainder of this year's torch relay should be canceled. In the face of massive protests against China's human rights abuses, the committee is considering a plan to limit the remainder of the relay to China, reports AFP. But Beijing officials have insisted that the relay will continue as planned.
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Marches "tarnish the lofty Olympic spirit," China says
Reuters Apr 7, 08 8:28 PM CDT