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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Olympics to 'rebound from crisis' | Olympics to 'rebound from crisis' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The head of the International Olympic Committee has said anti-China protests had created a "crisis" but that the Games in Beijing would "rebound". | The head of the International Olympic Committee has said anti-China protests had created a "crisis" but that the Games in Beijing would "rebound". |
| Jacques Rogge told a meeting of national Olympic committees in Beijing that the Games would succeed. | Jacques Rogge told a meeting of national Olympic committees in Beijing that the Games would succeed. |
| But Mr Rogge urged China to respect its "moral engagement" to improve human rights ahead of the Games. | But Mr Rogge urged China to respect its "moral engagement" to improve human rights ahead of the Games. |
| China said it hoped the IOC would steer clear of what it called "irrelevant political factors". | China said it hoped the IOC would steer clear of what it called "irrelevant political factors". |
| "I hope IOC officials can eliminate all kinds of disturbance and continue to adhere to principles of the Olympic charter," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said. | "I hope IOC officials can eliminate all kinds of disturbance and continue to adhere to principles of the Olympic charter," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said. |
| Political pressure | Political pressure |
| Demonstrators critical of China's rights record and the recent crackdown on protests in Tibet have disrupted the UK, French and US stages of the Olympic torch relay. | Demonstrators critical of China's rights record and the recent crackdown on protests in Tibet have disrupted the UK, French and US stages of the Olympic torch relay. |
| The Dalai Lama - who many Tibetans regard as their spiritual leader - said on Thursday that China deserved to host the Games, but that protesters had the right to express themselves in non-violent ways. | The Dalai Lama - who many Tibetans regard as their spiritual leader - said on Thursday that China deserved to host the Games, but that protesters had the right to express themselves in non-violent ways. |
| Also on Thursday, members of the European Parliament called on EU leaders to boycott the games if there was no resumption of dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama. | Also on Thursday, members of the European Parliament called on EU leaders to boycott the games if there was no resumption of dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama. |
| Map of planned world torch relay route | Map of planned world torch relay route |
| Speaking in Beijing, Mr Rogge said: "It is a crisis. There is no doubt about that. But the IOC has weathered many bigger storms." | |
| He said Chinese officials had said that awarding the Games to Beijing would help advance social change in China, including human rights. | He said Chinese officials had said that awarding the Games to Beijing would help advance social change in China, including human rights. |
| Mr Rogge said he considered that "a moral engagement... and we definitely ask China to respect this moral engagement". | Mr Rogge said he considered that "a moral engagement... and we definitely ask China to respect this moral engagement". |
| However, addressing a joint meeting between the Association of National Olympic Committees and the IOC executive board, he said officials should reassure athletes. | However, addressing a joint meeting between the Association of National Olympic Committees and the IOC executive board, he said officials should reassure athletes. |
| 'Houdini torch' relay disappointsIn pictures: San Francisco relayMihir Bose blog: Balancing act | 'Houdini torch' relay disappointsIn pictures: San Francisco relayMihir Bose blog: Balancing act |
| "Tell them that they are going to set an example and that the world will be watching them. We have 120 days to achieve that and I am sure it is going to be successful." | "Tell them that they are going to set an example and that the world will be watching them. We have 120 days to achieve that and I am sure it is going to be successful." |
| In the US, both Democratic presidential hopefuls have called on President George W Bush to consider boycotting the Beijing opening ceremony if China does not improve its human rights record. | In the US, both Democratic presidential hopefuls have called on President George W Bush to consider boycotting the Beijing opening ceremony if China does not improve its human rights record. |
| "A boycott of the opening ceremonies should be firmly on the table but this decision should be made closer to the Games [in August]," Senator Barack Obama said a day after a similar call by Senator Hillary Clinton. | "A boycott of the opening ceremonies should be firmly on the table but this decision should be made closer to the Games [in August]," Senator Barack Obama said a day after a similar call by Senator Hillary Clinton. |
| The US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a motion condemning China's "extreme" response to recent protests in Tibet. | The US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a motion condemning China's "extreme" response to recent protests in Tibet. |
| A spokeswoman for UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would not be attending the opening ceremonies, but had never intended to do so and would be at the closing ceremony. | A spokeswoman for UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would not be attending the opening ceremonies, but had never intended to do so and would be at the closing ceremony. |
| 'Saddened' | 'Saddened' |
| The Olympic flame was lit in Greece on 24 March and is being relayed through 20 countries before being carried into the opening ceremony in Beijing on 8 August. | The Olympic flame was lit in Greece on 24 March and is being relayed through 20 countries before being carried into the opening ceremony in Beijing on 8 August. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The Olympics have always been politically motivated so protests should be accepted Thomas, Guilford, UKSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY The Olympics have always been politically motivated so protests should be accepted Thomas, Guilford, UKSend us your comments |
| The threat of protests has meant that torch-bearers have been immersed in a cocoon of security, surrounded by dozens of police officers and Chinese guards in track-suits. | The threat of protests has meant that torch-bearers have been immersed in a cocoon of security, surrounded by dozens of police officers and Chinese guards in track-suits. |
| In Paris, the torch had to be extinguished three times because of safety concerns, while in London there were 37 arrests. | In Paris, the torch had to be extinguished three times because of safety concerns, while in London there were 37 arrests. |
| The US stage of the torch relay in San Francisco on Wednesday passed off amid confusion and tight security. | The US stage of the torch relay in San Francisco on Wednesday passed off amid confusion and tight security. |
| Mr Rogge said he had been "saddened' by violent protests in Europe but he believed the San Francisco relay had been an improvement. | Mr Rogge said he had been "saddened' by violent protests in Europe but he believed the San Francisco relay had been an improvement. |
| "It was, however, not the joyous party that we had wished it to be," he added. | "It was, however, not the joyous party that we had wished it to be," he added. |
| Demonstrators also sought to disrupt the torch relay in Athens and Istanbul, while it passed successfully through Almaty, in Kazakhstan, and St Petersburg, in Russia. | Demonstrators also sought to disrupt the torch relay in Athens and Istanbul, while it passed successfully through Almaty, in Kazakhstan, and St Petersburg, in Russia. |
| It is due to arrive in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, later this week. | It is due to arrive in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, later this week. |
| 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 Macau 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 Macau 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 |
| Will you be watching the torch as it travels through Buenos Aires? Are you in China? What do you think of the protests and the torch relay? You can send your comments using the form below: | Will you be watching the torch as it travels through Buenos Aires? Are you in China? What do you think of the protests and the torch relay? You can send your comments using the form below: |
| You can send pictures and video to: | You can send pictures and video to: |
| yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Click here to see terms and conditions | yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Click here to see terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |