China Olympic Games

Olympic committee considers banning torch relay

Article published on the 2008-04-08 Latest update 2008-08-06 14:16 TU

Athlete Denise Lews, carries the Olympic torch into Downing Street on Sunday while police hold back pro-Tibet demonstrators.
(Photo : Reuters)

Officials at the International Olympic Committe have said they may abandon the torch relay in future, after it was interrupted by demonstrators in London and Paris. The IOC is holding its last official meetings in the Chinese capital this week, with organizers of the Beijing games.

The organisation's president Jacques Rogge is under pressure to speak out on human rights and provide stronger guidelines to athletes on how to conduct themselves.

China has condemned the protests, but vowed Tuesday to continue the procession to the end. More problems were expected Wednesday in San Francisco, the only North American leg of the relay.

Paris' Olympic torch relay descended into chaos Monday, with protesters scaling the Eiffel Tower, grabbing for the flame and forcing security officials to repeatedly snuff out the torch. Organizers were forced to cancel the last third of the route in Paris after demonstrators hurled water at the flame.

Another 37 people were arrested in London on Sunday after scuffles, as protesters tried to extinguish the torch.

The torch relay has turned into a public relations disaster for the IOC and China's communist government, which had hoped the August games would showcase an open, modern country.

China's Foreign Ministry blamed the disruptions on groups seeking to split the far western region of Tibet from the rest of China.

The protests came as U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton has called for President George Bush to boycott the opening ceremony of the Bejjing games in August, saying he should press China over Tibet and Darfur.