The Conglomerate

Issue date: 5/2/08 Section: International

As the Olympic torch slowly makes its way around the globe in preparation for the Summer Games in Beijing, protesters have been drawn, pardon the pun, like moths to a flame. So far, the Olympic torch's path has been hindered by demonstrators in nearly every country along the route. In London, some protesters even tried to grab the torch from the runners, causing a scuffle between the agitators and the specialized, blue-clad Chinese police who had to link arms and surround the torch to protect it. 37 protesters were arrested as groups of demonstrators launched themselves at the torch's guards. Some even came armed with fire extinguishers, in another attempt to put out the Olympic flame. In Paris, the scheduled route had to be cut short, and the torch was even extinguished on three separate occasions for about five minutes as the runner was ferried into a bus to escape determined protesters who were blocking the course. Officials were quick to point out, however, that the actual Olympic flame is kept in a separate chamber and was not put out at any point.

Then on to San Francisco, Pakistan, and Delhi, where increasing levels of precautions were taken to try and ensure the safety of the torch and its runners. In Islamabad, for example, the entire route was cancelled, and the scheduled runners, about 60 in all, were confined to running in circles around the track in a sports stadium. India beefed up its security as well, though it allowed the torch route to continue through the streets with only a few modifications to try and control potential crowds. Of course, one of those modifications was the addition of around 16,000 police in the vicinity of the torch route, turning the downtown area into a virtual fortress. Australia also managed to keep a semblance of order in Canberra when the torch came through, due largely to an increased police presence and a steel fence.

The torch has managed to make it through a few cities unmolested, however, including Bangkok in Thailand and Tanzania, though the news coverage of these cities has been largely overlooked in favor of the more dramatic protests.

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