The Police Puts Out the Olympic Flame in Paris

The Olympic torch relay of the Beijing GamesSecurity Overview
encountered several bumps during its journeyThe French authorities had designed a strong
through Paris which forced the torch to be carriedsafety plan to avoid incidents in the case
into a bus reported the police. But, shortly aftersomeone tried to step while the Olympic fire was
the Olympic fire was on again.on march. The measurements included 3,000
Since its exit at the Eiffel Tower the formeragents who created a ring of a perimeter of 200
athlete Stéphane Diaganá carried sitemeters around the flame all this to once more
the torch. Unfortunately, it became rapidlyprevent any type of unexpected incidents as the
surrounded by demonstrators in favor of theones that recently took place in London.
human rights; while thousands of Tibet flags wereAdditionally, some 65-motorcycle riders
show; a situation which rapidly became chaotic.surrounded the torch and two security vehicles
Due to the delay the situation arose thebesides a helicopter and several motorboats
organizers decided to transport the torch by afollowed them on the Siena River stream. There
bus in various sections where the number thewas also an extensive deployment of police
demonstrators was greater. Many of them triedofficers, firemen and other agents who
to upset the parade, which was surrounded bycomplemented the group.
impressive measures of security.No Itinerary Changes in Beijing
Near the Southern part of Paris the policeDespite of the recent unfortunate events, the
indicated that four persons who carried a fire2008 Beijing Organizer Committee, stated that
extinguisher were detained along the way reason"nothing will able to stop" the march of the
for which the scheduled ceremonies wereOlympic torch and added that its voyage
suspended.throughout the world "will be maintained"
Due to these recent incidents the Olympic torch'saccordingly and "will be a success". "We will not
journey was modified. The event organizers, inchange the schedules due to the incidents",
coordination with the Chinese Embassy in Parisrebranded Wang Hui, the Public Relations of the
decided to call off the predicted ceremony in theBocog department's director, who ruled out the
City Hall, which had duration of half an hour.possibility to send "troops of security" to the cities
One of the organizations involved in the protests -in which the torch will be arriving, as they do not
Reporters Without Borders - and others prowant to create a tenser atmosphere surrounding
defense of the Tibet where much involved in thethe Olympic fire.
demonstrations at the French capital. Finally; theThe torch, that now is in Paris, will traveled
torch arrived at 5: 40 PM to the Charléty ofthrough 21 cities in five continents as well as via
Paris stadium; almost 45 minutes behind theseveral Chinese provinces before returning to
predicted schedule after a chaotic route of 28Beijing for the Olympic games' inaugural
kilometers shadowed by activists trying toceremony, which will be celebrated next August
encourage the world to defend the human rights8th.
situation in Tibet.