SUGGESTATION

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7339380.stm

In a last minute switcharoo, the San Francisco leg of the Olympic torch relay was rerouted, leaving behind both supporters and protestors.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom told Reuters news agency: “We assessed the situation and felt that we could not secure the torch and protect the protesters and supporters to the degree that we wished.”

Instead, a muted closing event took place on a motorway fly-over well away from the planned location, says the BBC’s David Willis in San Francisco.

After being loaded onto a bus and driven to a new starting point a mile away from the original start, the relay took place under heavy guard, away from inconvenient obstacles (ie. the public).

Time to end this farce now. Any point in continuing this relay?

Blood and Treasure has a post up about an Independent article concerning those nice cuddly students in blue tracksuits escorting the Olympic torch.

Turns out that they’re… not students. They’re members of the People’s Armed Police, a paramilitary group responsible for repressing political demonstrations in China / Tibet.

Go Olympic spirit!

Gordon, you cheeky little devil - you knew, didn’t ya.

Update: Beau Bo D’or has the best pictures

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSN0642976020080407?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

I’m not Clinton’s biggest fan, being an Obama man myself (much to my dear girlfriend’s chagrin!), but I’ll have to give her props for this.

Taking a firm stance against China’s human rights abuses, a stance that Gordon Brown seems lately incapable of, does nothing but improve Clinton’s credibility as a strong leader. It is obviously easier to make throwaway remarks about what political leaders should do, but increased pressure can only be a good thing.

I find it a great shame two of the three main political parties, and the majority of the mainstream media in the UK, have found themselves unwilling to take a stronger stance.

The Olympic torch is due to arrive in San Fransisco on wednesday - I hope that US citizens give it at least as good a welcome as it has had here and in France!

Update: (via Liberal Conspiracy) Apparently Obama has now done the same. Took you long enough!

Given the farce that was the Olympic torch handover in England yesterday, it should come as no surprise that protestors have been lining up in France for the past few hours, in preparation for the next leg of the relay.

The ridiculous spectacle of the Olympic torch surrounded by a horde of police officers and tracksuited heavies being shepherded through an angry mob was punctuated by Konnie Huq’s statement that it was wonderful that people were allowed to protest here.

Update:
Ok so… Apparently officials have put out the olympic flame themselves and put the torch on a bus. Er… That ain’t supposed to happen is it?

Update 2:
Flame was relit. And put out again…

You know, I’m so glad that today’s leg of the torch relay hasn’t descended into yesterday’s comedy show.

Update 3:
Another day, another debacle. Much has been made of the olympic ’spirit’ that the torch is supposed to convey - a spirit that is called upon when condemning attempts to protest, but conveniently forgotten when we remember who is hosting the Olympics. Perhaps it is fitting that like this spirit, the torch itself has been extinguished, twice, when it became too much trouble to get it through the crowds.

Before today, I hadn’t noticed that the torch relay has an official website. Unsurprisingly, it condemns attempts to extinguish the torch by protesters in England on sunday. I wonder what it will say about today’s protests - and the inevitable protests to follow in later legs of the relay.

(via Justin on Twitter)

http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hOkWFWPTl44cNOY1xZ1-ibfdQCEA

And so the Olympic torch has arrived here in sunny England. As anyone who hasn’t been hiding on the moon will know, this year’s olympics have been particularly controversial given that it is being hosted by China, who, let’s face it, don’t have the best human rights record, particularly with regards Tibet.

Gordon Brown is going to plough ahead in welcoming the Olympic torch, stating “The Dalai Lama himself has said that he does not want to see a boycott of the Olympics”. Oh good. Excuse me for not giving a shit. I’m sorry, but the tired old line I’ve been hearing recently that sports and politics shouldn’t mix is a load of crap.

Politics is everyones responsibility.