Protesters in Brazil halt Olympic torch relay and extinguish its flame

Washington Post ^ | July 28, 2016 | Max Bearak

[C19fan]

Protests have continued to roil the lead-up to the 2016 Summer Olympics, with the opening ceremony just over a week away. On Wednesday night, government employees angry over delayed salary payments took to the streets in Angra dos Reis, a city near Rio de Janeiro, and confronted the procession carrying one of the Olympic torches.

Chaotic scenes caught on amateur video show a crowd of young people appearing to steal the torch from the procession and then extinguish it. Local news reports said that the Brazilian military eventually disbanded the protests using tear gas and rubber bullets, and in return were showered with rocks and bricks by the crowd. One child was reportedly injured. The torch relay was temporarily halted.

[C19fan]

So much for Brazil's coming out party.

[Jane Long]

Is this a first? Has the flame ever been extinguished by protesters before, en route to to opening ceremonies?

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Brazil is the country of the future... and always will be. - Charles de Gaulle

[C19fan]

I know this is the 2nd time a protester has extinguished the flame in Brazil.

[bubbacluck]

Does the torch have to go back to Greece to get re-lit?

[PROCON]

Another first in the Bizarro world in which we now live.

Could the problem be the spread of 0bama-itis?

Yeah, I blame him for all bad things.

[C19fan]

Nah. Brazil was messed way before Obama.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Zeus will not be pleased . . . . . .

[colorado tanker]

Oh, boy. This Olympics is gonna be sumpin’ else.

[Vigilanteman]

LOL! I like that.

But they sure produce drop-dead gorgeous women, don't they?

I attend a wedding for my nephew five years ago. When I met the bride== Wowza! Beautiful and smart. The bride's sister was almost as gorgeous and had the uncle introducing her to all the eligible young men around.

We went to another reception for a family friend a couple of weeks ago. Also a Brazilian bride and also Wowza! Is there any way we could arrange a trade of American feminazis for Brazilian Wowza?

[Cecily]

When was the last time the Olympic Games were exciting and interesting to the general American public? I enjoyed watching them in the 1970s and 1980s. The Games in London in 2012 were good (the Queen’s cameo and her “entrance” into the opening ceremony were funny).

I expect that the Rio games will be a complete shambles.

[rollo tomasi]

Favela kids making themselves known. Since futball is not the main focus, the pageantry is open for more spoilage by those who actually control Brazil from the inside. The elites are perplexed, but seeking the grace of God, not money, can fix that country (Or any other country as well).

[The Toll]

The Olympic Games are for times of peace. Anyone that thinks that is what we are in now is a complete fool.

[T-Bone Texan]

What exactly marks the beginning of these games?

A haiku:

For me, it won't start
Until I see a swimmer
get poop in his mouth

[Bogey78O]

No.

There’s another fire kept nearby in case of it being extinguished, if I remember right. It’s happened before due to carelessness or weather but I don’t know if it was ever purposefully snuffed out en route.

[PGR88]

Brazil - perpetually a “country of the future.”

[Hot Tabasco]

I feel sorry for the young athletes who have trained all their lives for the opportunity to finally make it to the olympics on behalf of the U.S. only to have the games in Brazil under these conditions........

As an adult who has never experienced the training sacrifices these kids have gone thru I can easily say that there is no way I would compete in these games........

I'd probably feel different if in their shoes........

[NorthMountain]

You’re on a roll today ...

[T-Bone Texan]

Another haiku:

For me it won't start
'Til Michael Phelps gets murdered
In drug buy gone bad

[NorthMountain]

Will Michael Phelps swim
Faster than he did when he
Was high on reefer?