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| Olympic torch arrives in Beijing | Olympic torch arrives in Beijing |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Olympic torch has arrived in Beijing aboard a special flight from Athens where it was handed over to the Chinese Olympic authorities. | The Olympic torch has arrived in Beijing aboard a special flight from Athens where it was handed over to the Chinese Olympic authorities. |
| The torch will be taken to Tiananmen Square for a ceremony to welcome it to Beijing, which is hosting the 2008 Summer Games in August. | The torch will be taken to Tiananmen Square for a ceremony to welcome it to Beijing, which is hosting the 2008 Summer Games in August. |
| Tight security is expected at the square to prevent any protests. | Tight security is expected at the square to prevent any protests. |
| In Athens, demonstrators opposed to China's actions in Tibet clashed with police at the ceremony. | In Athens, demonstrators opposed to China's actions in Tibet clashed with police at the ceremony. |
| The torch's passage through Greece last week was dogged by protests on human rights and Tibet. | The torch's passage through Greece last week was dogged by protests on human rights and Tibet. |
| On Tuesday, the torch goes to Almaty in Kazakhstan, its next stop on a tour of 20 countries before returning for the opening of the Beijing games on 8 August. | On Tuesday, the torch goes to Almaty in Kazakhstan, its next stop on a tour of 20 countries before returning for the opening of the Beijing games on 8 August. |
| See map of Olympic torch relay route | See map of Olympic torch relay route |
| Square closed | |
| Hundreds of schoolchildren turned out at Beijing airport, waving flags as the Air China plane arrived. | |
| Students and workers sang the Olympic slogan "One World, One Dream" and waved pom-poms. | |
| Security was tight in the centre of Beijing, with the flame due in Tiananmen Square later in the day. | |
| One underground station near the square was closed, and police closed the square to vehicles. | |
| 'Timeless symbol' | 'Timeless symbol' |
| Sunday's formal handover was held in the Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens, where the first modern Olympics took place in 1896. | |
| The route of the torch in Greece has been dogged by protests | The route of the torch in Greece has been dogged by protests |
| The Chinese and Greek flags were marched in by Greek athletes to the strains of a band, before a circle of white-clad actresses dressed as ancient priestesses surrounded a podium as the torch was brought in. | The Chinese and Greek flags were marched in by Greek athletes to the strains of a band, before a circle of white-clad actresses dressed as ancient priestesses surrounded a podium as the torch was brought in. |
| Minos Kyriakou, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, passed the flame to chief Beijing organizer Liu Qi. | Minos Kyriakou, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, passed the flame to chief Beijing organizer Liu Qi. |
| "The Olympic flame is the timeless symbol which stirs admiration, pride and faith [in] the Olympic ideals and values," said Mr Kyriakou. | "The Olympic flame is the timeless symbol which stirs admiration, pride and faith [in] the Olympic ideals and values," said Mr Kyriakou. |
| "I hope the world community welcomes the flame and honours it". | "I hope the world community welcomes the flame and honours it". |
| Mr Liu pointed out that the summit of Mount Everest was on the torch's destination list, "testifying to the great strength of the Olympic movement in marking the progress of human civilisation". | Mr Liu pointed out that the summit of Mount Everest was on the torch's destination list, "testifying to the great strength of the Olympic movement in marking the progress of human civilisation". |
| The protesters tried to unfurl a banner which said "Stop genocide in Tibet", but failed to enter the stadium or disrupt the solemn ceremony. | The protesters tried to unfurl a banner which said "Stop genocide in Tibet", but failed to enter the stadium or disrupt the solemn ceremony. |
| At least six people were arrested. | At least six people were arrested. |
| Police had warned they would confiscate all banners, signs or objects that might be thrown. | Police had warned they would confiscate all banners, signs or objects that might be thrown. |
| OLYMPIC TORCH ROUTE Torch lit in Olympia on 24 March and taken on five-day relay around Greece to AthensAfter handover ceremony, it is taken to Beijing on 31 March to begin a journey of 136,800 km (85,000 miles) around the worldTorch arrives in Macao on 3 May. After three-month relay all around China, it arrives in Beijing for opening ceremony on 8 August See detailed route on Beijing 2008 official site | OLYMPIC TORCH ROUTE Torch lit in Olympia on 24 March and taken on five-day relay around Greece to AthensAfter handover ceremony, it is taken to Beijing on 31 March to begin a journey of 136,800 km (85,000 miles) around the worldTorch arrives in Macao on 3 May. After three-month relay all around China, it arrives in Beijing for opening ceremony on 8 August See detailed route on Beijing 2008 official site |
| Click here to return | Click here to return |