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April 11, 2008 Japan bans tracksuited Chinese torch guards, as relay moves to Buenos Aires Leo Lewis, Asia Business Correspondent The "thug" Chinese security guards who have accompanied the Olympic torch on its route through London, Paris and San Fransisco, will not be allowed to make a repeat performance in Japan. Matters of security on Japanese soil will be handled by the domestic police alone, and that principle will not be compromise just because it is the Olympics, said the Chairman of the National Public Safety Commission in Tokyo. “I do not personally accept the idea that they will run...

April 8, 2008 IOC may scrap Olympic torch relay over protests Jenny Booth, and Chris Ayres in Los Angeles The International Olympic Committee may scrap the international leg of the Beijing Olympic torch relay as a result of the protests over China’s military crackdown in Tibet. Jacques Rogge, the IOC President, says the organisation’s executive board will meet on Friday to debate whether to allow the torch to continue its 85,000-mile, 21-country journey. Mr Rogge said this morning that he was “deeply saddened" by the violent protests in London and Paris, and concerned about tomorrow's torch relay in San Francisco....

PARIS - Security officials snuffed out the Olympic torch and carried it through Paris in the safety of a bus at least five times Monday before canceling the final run of a relay repeatedly disrupted by chaotic protests against China's human rights record. Security officials put the torch on the bus for the last stretch but stopped right outside its destination, a Paris stadium, so a runner could finish the last 15 feet. At least two activists earlier got within almost an arm's length of the flame before they were grabbed by police. A protester threw water at the torch...

China wants army to oversee torch relay in Australia CHINA wants its army to oversee the Australian leg of the Olympic torch relay to ensure protests do not mar the event. The move, which has been rebuffed by the Australian Federal Police, comes as Beijing reels from an embarrassing relay launch in Athens when human rights activists hijacked the event. China has responded by radically cutting back relay legs in cities where it expects more trouble, including San Francisco and Paris. It is understood Beijing has deep concerns that protesters will turn the Canberra leg of the relay on April...

Greece Holds Olympic Flame Lighting Thu Mar 25,11:54 AM ET By PATRICK QUINN, Associated Press Writer ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece - The flame that will burn at the Athens Games was lit Thursday amid the ruins of the ancient sanctuary where the Olympics were born 2,780 years ago. AP Photo AP Photo Slideshow: Olympic Torch Olympic Flame Begins Trek Under Scrutiny (AP Video) In a ceremony held at an altar to Hera, a Greek goddess worshipped in Olympia during the original games, the torch was lit by a Greek actress playing the role of a high priestess. Thalia Prokopiou, one of...