Scene of the press conference
(BEIJING, April 7) -- At 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 7, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) held a press conference at the Beijing Olympic Media Center to give an update on the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay.
Under the theme of "Journey of Harmony," the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay started its worldwide journey on April 1, 2008. The sacred flame has so far passed through Almaty in Kazakhstan, Istanbul in Turkey, St. Petersburg in Russia and London in Britain. People along the Torch Relay route have extended the flame a warm welcome and the relay is proceeding successfully as planned.
Firstly, the countries on the relay route have attached great importance and given strong support to the Olympic flame. At the first stop of the relay, the president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, attended the commencement ceremony and delivered a speech. He then ran as the first torchbearer. Seeing the Olympic Torch Relay as a way to support the Beijing Olympics and to rehearse for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, the city of St. Petersburg attached great importance to the event and used first-rate resources to facilitate a successful relay.
During the London leg of the relay, Prime Minister Gordon Brown held a welcoming ceremony at No. 10 Downing Street and met with British torchbearers. Princess Anne and the Lord Lieutenant of Greater London attended and spoke at the celebration ceremony that ended the day's events.
Secondly, all Torch Relay cities have given strong support for the event. At each stop of the Olympic Torch Relay, the city's local government has held a grand welcoming ceremony and various celebrations. These cities have designed elaborate relay routes that have demonstrated the unique features of their respective cultures and landscapes. They have all provided first-class organizational, security and logistic support for the success of the relay.
Thirdly, the Olympic torch has received a warm welcome worldwide. During the Almaty leg of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay on April 2, 2008, over 200,000 citizens filled the streets to welcome the sacred flame in an atmosphere that was friendly and passionate. In Istanbul, people wore their best outfits as they came out to witness the Torch Relay. Seventy-thousand people celebrated the arrival of the Olympic flame on the streets of St. Petersburg. Although it was cold in London, with the temperature at zero degrees Celsius, more than one thousand Londoners from all walks of life participated in the launching ceremony of the London leg of the Torch Relay. London artists gave brilliant performances amid snow; passionate crowds lined the relay route.
Fourthly, athletes from all over the world have joined the Beijing Olympic torch relay with great enthusiasm. "The torch for me is not, therefore, simply about a relay around London, it is a moment where the Olympics comes to the front of everyone's mind and we celebrate the dedication of the young athletes who train day in, day out to get to the games," said five-time Olympic rowing gold medalist Sir Steve Redgrave in the Guardian. "The torch relay gives the opportunity for people from all walks of life to touch the Olympics, to feel the dream. The games are an experience like no other, but only a few people get to go and experience their magic."
The first four legs of the Torch Relay have attracted more than 100 athletes; all of them are outstanding representatives who have participated in the Summer or Winter Olympic Games. The first torchbearer of Istanbul was the first Turkish ice skater to participate in the Winter Games. The Olympic flame stands for peace, love and friendship, representing the common dreams and desires of human beings. It deserves the respect of the whole world.
Wang Hui, director of BOCOG Media and Communications department
Fifthly, the torch has been carried through a variety of means that reflect the history, culture, scenery and passion of the countries it's visited. The Torch Relay in Almaty started from Medeo Mountain and torchbearers carried the flame while skiing and while riding motorcycles, horses and camels. In Istanbul, the Olympic torch was twice carried across the Bosporus Strait, which runs between Asia and Europe. On its journey through London, the torch was carried on foot, on an open-topped double-decker bus and by light railway past some of London's most iconic spots. Furthermore, the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay has received great support from each National Olympic Committee, as well as enthusiastic reports worldwide from the media.
There have been attempts made to disturb and sabotage the Torch Relay by a small number of "pro-Tibet independence" activists.
The Olympic Torch Relay embodies the Olympic spirit and represents the earnestness and excitement with which the world awaits the Olympic Games. A small number of "pro-Tibet independence" activists have attempted to sabotage the event. During the Greece leg of the relay, a few activists attempted to stop the relay by lying on the street. In London, a few protesters planned and carried out several destructive actions. One "pro-Tibet independence" activist tried to grab the torch and another attempted to extinguish the flame when well-known U.K. television presenter Konnie Huq was carrying the torch in northwest London. Their actions were stopped by local police, although Konnie Huq sustained a slight injury. During a lunch break, several "pro-Tibet independence" activists got past security in an attempt to clash with torchbearers and disturb the relay. The British police were successful in preventing these efforts.
Local people in London strongly opposed the attempt to sabotage the Torch Relay. And the behavior of "pro-Tibet independence" activists has aroused resentment and received condemnation in London.
As the highest symbol of the Olympic spirit, the Olympic flame represents peace, friendship and progress. Under the authorization of the International Olympic Committee, the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay is sharing the passion and glory of the Olympics with the world through its "Journey of Harmony." It has received a warm welcome from people throughout the Relay.
We strongly condemn the actions of the few "pro-Tibet independence" activists who have attempted to sabotage the Olympic Torch Relay. The Olympic flame belongs to the world and these actions are a serious violation of the Olympic spirit. They are bound to fail and will surely arouse the resentment of peace-loving people who support the Olympic Games.
The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games is not only a great event for the Chinese people, but also a great event for the world. It is important in spreading the Olympic spirit, promoting Olympic culture and furthering the development of the Olympic Games. The Beijing Olympic Games not only enhances China's understanding of the world, but it also enhances the world's understanding of China. It deepens the friendship between countries, promoting peace, development and cooperation around the world.
All cities of the Olympic Torch Relay, both on and outside the mainland of China, have made full preparations and have laid a solid foundation for the smooth completion of the Torch Relay. BOCOG would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the Torch Relay cities for the efforts they have made and to the people who have participated in the event. We believe that the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay will receive the support of peace-loving people around the world and be a great success!
Pro-Tibet protesters gathered ahead of the Olympic torch relay in San Francisco on April 9, 2008.
The Olympic torch relay in San Francisco, California, began today at 1:00 p.m. PDT (UTC-7). It was the only stop for the torch in the United States, as it makes its way around the world to Beijing, China, for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

The route for the torch was materially altered as protesters filled the streets along the planned route. The route, which was originally 10 kilometres long, was shortened by nearly half, according to the San Francisco Police Department. In hopes that all eighty of the scheduled torch carriers would get a chance to carry the torch, the carriers ran in pairs.

The first torch carrier ran as scheduled, but then carried it into a warehouse, from which a motorcycle was observed leaving. The torch was then spotted again on a major street nearly two miles off course.

The rerouting was carefully planned, according to San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who told ''Associated Press'', that it was because of "a disproportionate concentration of people in and around the start of the relay."

The closing ceremonies were held at San Francisco International Airport instead of the planned waterfront location at AT&T Park.

Matt Helmenstine, 30, a California high school teacher carrying a Tibetan flag told Reuters: "I think it's cowardly. If they can't run the torch through the city, it means that no one is supporting the games."

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime thing for us to see the torch," said Nancy Chan, a local resident, to the ''San Francisco Chronicle''. "There is a lot of politics around it, but that is the great thing about America - the free speech." She and her 4-year-old son ran to the new route when it was announced.

Protestors filling the street in San Francisco. 
At least one protester was arrested, Xiao Tan, 32, of Chinese origin, who tried to unfurl a Tibetan flag. "I'm proud to be Chinese, but I don't like what's happening in Tibet," he told AFP. The ''Vancouver Sun'' reported a number of arrests, but says that violence is limited.

Peter Ueberroth, the chairman of the United States Olympic Committee, said that the right balance had been reached, between preserving freedom of speech for protesters, while still providing an exhilarating experience for torchbearers, as well as preventing a repeat of the chaotic demonstrations that accompanied the torch in London and Paris.

Already Tuesday evening, hundreds paraded with Tibetan flags while chanting "Shame on China". On Monday, protesters hung banners from the Golden Gate Bridge. As the torch went to London and Paris, the torch relay was subject to large scale protests in both cities.

Tight security was planned in advance. Airspace restrictions have been put in place and over 700 security personnel are expected to be deployed including FBI agents. Police leave was cancelled. The United States Coast Guard patrolled the part of the route that was to take the torch along the waterfront at Fisherman's Wharf.

"We are trying to accomplish two goals here. One is to protect the right to free speech and the other is to ensure public safety, and here in San Francisco we are good at both of those things," said Nathan Ballard about the security. Ballard is a spokesperson for San Francisco Mayor's office.

"I am saddened that such a beautiful symbol of the torch, which unites people of different religions, different ethnic origin, different political systems, cultures and languages, has been attacked," said Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee, to the ''Wall Street Journal''.

The Beijing Organizing Committee said in a statement on Monday: "We strongly condemn the actions of the few 'pro-Tibet independence' activists who have attempted to sabotage the Olympic Torch Relay. The Olympic flame belongs to the world and these actions are a serious violation of the Olympic spirit. They are bound to fail and will surely arouse the resentment of peace-loving people who support the Olympic Games."