The Rocky Mountain Collegian

Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Phil Ipparis - Associated Press Pro-Tibetan protesters hang a banner on the balcony of an hotel as a car of the official torch relay passes by in the village of Ancient Olympia, southern Greece, on Monday, March 24 2008. The flame for the Aug. 8-24 Beijing Olympics has been lit using the sun's rays at a ceremony in Ancient Olympia. Protests by press freedom and pro-Tibet groups disrupted the flame-lighting ceremony inside the stadium where the ancient games have been held for more than 1,000 years.

ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece (AP) _ Even before the Olympic flame was lit Monday, a protester of China's human rights policies disrupted the solemn ceremony, foreshadowing the prospect of demonstrations throughout the 85,000-mile torch-relay route right up to the Beijing Games themselves.



Forecasts of clouds and rain had been considered the main threat to the pomp-filled torch-lighting. But in the end, while the sun sparked the flame to life, it was the protesters who turned the joyful bow to the Olympics' roots into a political statement about China's crackdown in Tibet and other rights issues.



Three men advocating press freedom evaded massive security and ran onto the field at the ceremony in Ancient Olympia before they were seized by police. Minutes later, a Tibetan woman covered in fake blood briefly blocked the path of the torch relay.



The incidents came after International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge told The Associated Press in an interview that he was engaged in "silent diplomacy" with the Chinese but wouldn't intervene in politics to try to change their policies.



"We are discussing on a daily basis with Chinese authorities, including discussing these issues, while strictly respecting the sovereignty of China in its affairs," Rogge said.



Protests are bound to follow the torch throughout its 136-day route across five continents and 20 countries. China pledged strict security measures to ensure its segment of the relay won't be marred by protests.

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