ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece -- 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.
Greek police pull a pro-Tibetan protestor out of the way of the Olympic torch relay route on Monday. The woman’s face is covered with a red substance that was believed to be used to replicate blood.
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. Tibetan activists have already said they plan to demonstrate elsewhere on the route. “Later we will do protests in London and Paris,” said Tenzin Dorjee, a member of Students for a Free Tibet who protested in Ancient Olympia.
Protests of China’s rule turned violent March 14 in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, sparking waves of unrest in surrounding provinces. China reported a death toll of 22 from the violence, but Tibet’s exiled government says 80 Tibetans were killed. Nineteen died in subsequent violence in Gansu province, it said.
A rising chorus of international criticism and floated calls for a boycott have unnerved the Chinese leadership, which has turned up efforts to put its own version of the unrest before the international public.
China has blamed the riots on followers of the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has urged China to start talks with him. Edward Friedman, a China specialist at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, said he expects Beijing to rally national pride by attacking its critics. Friedman said he expects China to put pressure on other countries to stay neutral and “to not do things to politicize the Olympics.”
Luciano Barra, deputy CEO of the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, recalled how the torch relay in Italy was dogged by protesters opposed to construction of a rail tunnel. Organizers diverted the route at one stage to avoid the demonstrators.
“It makes me laugh compared to the current problem,” Barra said. Another potential flashpoint is the route through Tibet. The flame is due to be carried to the summit of Mount Everest in May and pass through Lhasa in June.
“The very idea that they will be able to parade the torch through Tibet after the crackdown is obscene given what’s going on in Tibet,” said Anne Holmes, acting director of the London-based Free Tibet campaign.
landmark face-to-face meeting between NBA Commissioner David Stern and PBA Commissioner Sonny Barrios two weeks ago resulted in an across-the-globe agreement to pursue common projects that will initially cover areas in education/outreach projects, technical (officiating) management and marketing. The private meeting between the two pro basketball leaders took place in Stern’s 15th floor office at the Olympic Tower on 645 Fifth Avenue, New York and was arranged by NBA basketball operations official Brook Meeks and Martin Conlon.
Barrios was in Sacramento, California last month to attend to his family care home business and was in New York for his daughter’s wedding when he sought an audience with his NBA counterpart before flying home. “Commissioner Stern wanted a quick picture of how the PBA was doing, how business was, how many teams were playing, and if the quality of play has improved,” said Barrios.
“He responded positively to our request and he expressed his support for future transfer of technology and know-how projects.”
Possible areas of “collaboration” were explored and the two men agreed, among others, to undertake an “outreach project” in connection with the NBA’s “Read to Achieve” program.
Barrios proposed that NBA send children’s books to the PBA and players will be asked to read to children “perhaps in the lobby of playing venues before the games or in the PBA Office.”
A technical group from PBA will also be sent to the States to observe and learn NBA management philosophies covering training, performance and evaluation of referees. And a plan for possible “co-branding activities and projects” with NBA Marketing was similarly discussed.
Barrios likewise met with Kelly Flatow, the NBA’s vice president for strategic marketing, and Michael Proman of Global Business Development, a marketing partner of the NBA.
“Both were pleasantly surprised to hear that Coca-Cola has a team in the PBA since Coke is a major marketing partner of the NBA,” Barrios said, adding Flatow promised to get in touch with Carlo Singson of NBA Hong Kong to discuss projects to be undertaken with the PBA.
Before winding up his NBA office visit, Barrios sat down with Paul Brazeau, vice president for basketball operations, who shared the NBA’s views on various aspects of officiating and welcomed a visit by PBA Technical Officials to the NBA to observe and learn how the NBA operates re: Technical matters. “It was overall an enriching experience,” Barrios said.
