Even as pro-Tibet protests gain momentum in Delhi, a special Air China plane carrying the Olympic flame touched down at the Indira Gandhi International Airport at 1 am on Thursday. The flame, travelling from Islamabad to New Delhi, was handed over to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Chief Suresh Kalmadi by China Olympic Committee officials, amidst the presence of a huge delegation of IOA officials and security personnel.
The 2.5-km stretch between Rashtrapati Bhawan and India Gate in Delhi has been turned into a fortress ahead of the Olympic torch relay on Thursday. Guarded by thousands of policemen and paramilitary personnel, as many as 70 sportspersons and celebrities will carry the torch on the short route. More than 40 Tibetan demonstrators were detained in two separate places in Delhi early on Thursday. The Olympic run has been dogged by protests in Paris, London and San Francisco.
The Olympic relay will begin at around 1530 hrs IST and the event is expected to be over within an hour. The ceremony is out of bounds for everyone except chosen athletes, dignitaries, schoolchildren and the media. The torch would be kept at an “undisclosed” safe house until the relay begins in the afternoon. No visitors will be allowed to enter government buildings overlooking Rajpath after 1300 hrs IST. Visitors cannot leave the buildings after 1300 hrs IST until the relay gets over. Only government employees with identity cards will be allowed to access these buildings or leave these buildings. Only from military, police and security personnel will be allowed access to rooftops and balconies near Rajpath.
Guys !!! Do you think this relay lost its Olympic spirit as it is being organized under extreme scrutiny and security? Please use the comments section.
The olympic torch totally lost the point. Why are you even holding this relay if you are not allowing people to watch it. Disgrace to China !!!
As far as i know olympic is concerned to a game. all of a sudden why is it being concerned as politics. it is just a game which is meant to be performed to atleast to say that every part of this world is being involved to enjoy it. the thing doesnt make any sense is what would be taken as any reason to stop a game. any game is for enjoyment and for togetherness. i think none of them wants to have any game or refreshments in life, every one wants to fight with no reason and ashame themselves. shame to hear that politics has no limits to show its evil face and no one dares to stop that face.
Absolutedly. It is also disgrace to India and the popular people who were holding the torch. At least as a Hindustan, we should not have been allowed this mockery to the real spirit of Olympic.
I wonder why won’t people use their thinking and activity in doing something good instead of opposing things like this.Grow up guys, do something good.
China killed 4000 of their own people when they demended Democracy, this is the truth.
It’s no wonder they kill the Tibet people not just once, but twice. They go to any extent to keep Tibet under their control. This is the truth.
Disgrace to China, no matter how powerful they are, they claim to be.
I wish the world leaders know the fact that, when you dial here, you get the ring there. Just tell China, no Independance to Tibet, no Olympics. It may not yield a result, but one has to express the intent with impunity. Let the message go.
God bless Tibet, I’m with you.
Raj.
Shame shame India .. Shame shame China .. Congress Govt again proved that they don’t have balls ..