Olympic Torch Protest

The opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Torch Relay was interrupted by protesters on March 24, 2008. A man rushed the podium as China's Olympic Chief Liu Qi was speaking and unfurled a flag bearing the Olympic rings rendered as handcuffs.

French human rights activists Reporters Without Borders claimed responsibility for the protest saying, "We cannot let the Chinese government seize the Olympic flame, a symbol of peace, without denouncing the dramatic situation of human rights in the country."

Protests against the 2008 Olympics have targeted a wide range of issues, mostly related to Censorship in China, Human Rights Abuses, Tibetan Independence, and China's Role in Darfur.

• ESPN.com Video: Olympic Torch Extinguished in Paris Amid Protest (Time: 3:27)
• Official Site: Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
• Official Site: Reporters Without Borders - Beijing 2008
• Reporters Without Borders: Reporters Without Borders demonstrates in Olympia (March 24, 2008)
• CNN: Protest as Olympic torch is lit (March 24, 2008)
  • A protester managed to breach the tight security during the Olympic torch lighting ceremony in Greece Monday. The man rushed behind the podium as China's Olympic chief was speaking. He unfurled a banner, but was quickly apprehended by security who escorted him away.
• Daily Mail: Olympic torch lit - but Tibet protesters disrupt ceremony (March 24, 2008)
  • ...the relay was interrupted minutes after the ceremony began as three demonstrators from Paris-based Reporters Without Borders breached security during the speech of the Beijing Games organising chief Liu Qi in the ancient stadium of Olympia. One demonstrator - bearing a flag with the Olympic rings depicted as interlocking handcuffs...
• Google News: Olympic Torch Protest Search
• Topix: Olympic Torch Protest Search

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