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Olympics chief says torch relay will not be scrapped

Olympics chief Jacques Rogge asserted that there are no plans to shorten the global torch relay, as protests against the Tibetan crisis continued in San Francisco ahead of the Olympic torch's arrival on Wednesday.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 10:51 April 9, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Several hundred protesters marched through the streets of San Francisco in angry demonstrations ahead of the arrival of the Olympic torch.
  • Image Credit: AP

Beijing: Olympics chief Jacques Rogge asserted that there are no plans to shorten the global torch relay, as protests against the Tibetan crisis continued in San Francisco ahead of the Olympic torch's arrival on Wednesday.

Rogge told the Wall Street Journal that reports of the International Olympic Committee cancelling the relay were “based on a misunderstanding,'' and expressed dismay at the reaction the run has received.

Protests have marred the torch's global journey before it arrives in Beijing in August.

Its latest stop is in San Francisco, the only US city part of the relay. Several hundred activists have already marched through the streets in angry demonstrations ahead of the procession.

In light of the violent protests, other regions included on the torch's path are considering preventive measures, including Hong Kong.

Some people might be barred from entering to avoid similar demonstrations, the Hong Kong's security chief said, adding that he hoped the relay on May 2 would be "solemn and peaceful.''

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