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| Olympic torch lit despite protest | Olympic torch lit despite protest |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Olympic torch has been lit at a ceremony in Greece that was briefly disrupted by protesters. | The Olympic torch has been lit at a ceremony in Greece that was briefly disrupted by protesters. |
| Two pro-Tibet activists broke through the cordon of 1,000 police officers in Olympia and attempted to display a flag as China's envoy spoke. | Two pro-Tibet activists broke through the cordon of 1,000 police officers in Olympia and attempted to display a flag as China's envoy spoke. |
| Activists had vowed to protest over the violence in and around Tibet. | Activists had vowed to protest over the violence in and around Tibet. |
| The torch will now be carried around Greece before being sent to China to start a journey through 20 countries, returning to Beijing on 8 August. | |
| The route includes the torch being taken to the top of Mount Everest and through Tibet. | |
| See map of Olympic torch relay route | |
| As Liu Qi, head of the Beijing Olympic organising committee, spoke ahead of the torch lighting, two men ran up behind him attempting to display a black flag depicting the Olympic rings made from handcuffs. | As Liu Qi, head of the Beijing Olympic organising committee, spoke ahead of the torch lighting, two men ran up behind him attempting to display a black flag depicting the Olympic rings made from handcuffs. |
| They were quickly bundled away by police and Mr Liu continued his speech uninterrupted. | They were quickly bundled away by police and Mr Liu continued his speech uninterrupted. |
| The camera cut away from Mr Liu and the protesters until they had been removed from the scene. | The camera cut away from Mr Liu and the protesters until they had been removed from the scene. |
| Actors dressed in ancient Greek costume then lit the torch in the traditional manner by using a parabolic mirror to focus the sun's rays. | Actors dressed in ancient Greek costume then lit the torch in the traditional manner by using a parabolic mirror to focus the sun's rays. |
| There were fears that stormy weather would prevent the torch being lit in the customary way. | There were fears that stormy weather would prevent the torch being lit in the customary way. |
| The ceremony, beside the Temple of Hera, was moved forward by an hour and the sun shone through a break in the clouds. | The ceremony, beside the Temple of Hera, was moved forward by an hour and the sun shone through a break in the clouds. |
| 'Force for change' | 'Force for change' |
| The head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has defended the decision to hold the Games in China saying there was "no momentum" for a boycott. | The head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has defended the decision to hold the Games in China saying there was "no momentum" for a boycott. |
| "The major political leaders don't want a boycott," said IOC president Jacques Rogge said ahead of Monday's ceremony. | "The major political leaders don't want a boycott," said IOC president Jacques Rogge said ahead of Monday's ceremony. |
| Despite cloudy weather, the torch was lit using the sun's raysBefore the ceremony, a Tibetan activist confronted Mr Rogge in a hotel lobby and said there should be free access for all media inside China, including Tibet, during the Games. | Despite cloudy weather, the torch was lit using the sun's raysBefore the ceremony, a Tibetan activist confronted Mr Rogge in a hotel lobby and said there should be free access for all media inside China, including Tibet, during the Games. |
| In his speech during the ceremony, Mr Rogge said the Olympic torch relay and the Games should take place in a peaceful environment. | In his speech during the ceremony, Mr Rogge said the Olympic torch relay and the Games should take place in a peaceful environment. |
| "The torch is the link between all athletes and citizens of this world; between all of us who believe in Olympism and the virtue of sport. It has the force to unite humanity and to stand for harmony." | "The torch is the link between all athletes and citizens of this world; between all of us who believe in Olympism and the virtue of sport. It has the force to unite humanity and to stand for harmony." |
| He told the Associated Press news agency on Monday that he was engaged in "silent diplomacy" with Beijing on Tibet and other human rights issues. | He told the Associated Press news agency on Monday that he was engaged in "silent diplomacy" with Beijing on Tibet and other human rights issues. |
| Tibet unrest | Tibet unrest |
| The Olympic torch is being carried in a 136,000km (85,000 miles) around-the-world relay that will see it pass through 20 countries before arriving in Beijing for the start of the Games on 8 August. | The Olympic torch is being carried in a 136,000km (85,000 miles) around-the-world relay that will see it pass through 20 countries before arriving in Beijing for the start of the Games on 8 August. |
| Tibet activists are angered that the torch's route will take it through the Himalayan region and to the top of Mount Everest, which straddles the border between Nepal and Tibet. | Tibet activists are angered that the torch's route will take it through the Himalayan region and to the top of Mount Everest, which straddles the border between Nepal and Tibet. |
| China sent troops to Tibet in 1950 and since then there have been periods of unrest and sporadic uprisings as resentment of Beijing's rule has persisted. | China sent troops to Tibet in 1950 and since then there have been periods of unrest and sporadic uprisings as resentment of Beijing's rule has persisted. |
| The latest round of anti-China protests began in Tibet's main city, Lhasa, on 10 March - the 49th anniversary of a failed uprising - and gradually escalated. | The latest round of anti-China protests began in Tibet's main city, Lhasa, on 10 March - the 49th anniversary of a failed uprising - and gradually escalated. |
| Lhasa saw at least two days of violence and there have also been protests in provinces which border Tibet. | Lhasa saw at least two days of violence and there have also been protests in provinces which border Tibet. |
| China says 19 people were killed by rioters and accuses Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama of inciting the violence. | China says 19 people were killed by rioters and accuses Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama of inciting the violence. |
| The Tibetan government in exile says at least 130 people have died in a crackdown by Chinese troops and deny any role in the protests. | The Tibetan government in exile says at least 130 people have died in a crackdown by Chinese troops and deny any role in the protests. |
| 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 |
Did you attend the ceremony? Did you witness protests? Are you in Greece? Please send your comments by using the form below: | Did you attend the ceremony? Did you witness protests? Are you in Greece? Please send your comments by using the form below: |