Olympic torch 'hidden' from spectators in San Francisco

Spectators confused during Olympic torch's path through San Francisco

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Thursday, 10, Apr 2008 11:44

The path of the Olympic torch continues to attract attention after its journey through San Francisco was mired in confusion.

With last-minute route changes and the flame hidden from view for much of its voyage, thousands of spectators were left disappointed.

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Although the torch was lit at the relay route's start, it was then taken into a warehouse for the next 45 minutes, later re-appearing more than a mile away from the waiting crowds and demonstrators protesting against Chinese policy towards Tibet.

The relay route was also halved from six miles to three, with high-profile San Francisco landmarks such as the Golden Gate bridge omitted and the closing ceremony moved from the San Francisco Bay waterfront to a motorway flyover.

San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom told the Reuters news agency the organisers were inspired by a desire to uphold public safety in the wake of disruption seen during the torch's route through London and Paris.

"We assessed the situation and felt that we could not secure the torch and protect the protesters and supporters to the degree that we wished," he said.

"As a consequence, we engaged in subsequent contingency planning that we felt would keep people safe."

Meanwhile, Barack Obama has called on US president George Bush to boycott the Games' opening ceremony in protest at China's human rights record in Tibet.

"A boycott of the opening ceremonies should be firmly on the table but this decision should be made closer to the Games [in August]," he said in a statement.

Hillary Clinton, Mr Obama's rival for the Democratic party's nomination, had offered similar sentiments earlier this week, calling for "major changes" in Chinese policy.