Olympic torch completes India relay

Thousands of police were deployed in Delhi on Thursday as the Olympic torch landed in India. Hundreds of protesters had already been arrested in the lead up to the torch relay which was rerouted to avoid the troubles seen in other countries. Police were also issued with fire extinguishers and blankets because of the fear that some demonstrators may have set fire to themselves.
Three layers of police and paramilitary security forces surrounded the route which was cut from 6 km to 3 km. Originally the procession had been expected to start from Red Fort heading south to India Gate. But after security concerns the torch was carried the short distance along the Rajpath from the Presidential Palace to India Gate. Earlier in the day protesters held their own unofficial torch relay between Jantar Manta and the Ghandi Memorial.

The BBC described the procession as “sanitised” and a “damp squib” as it began in the Indian capital New Delhi. Most ordinary Indians were kept well back from the 3 km route which ran from the Presidential Palace to India Gate in the heart of the city. Coverage was sporadic with Sky News, the BBC and CNN showing some Live pictures from the ground. Sky News commentators made particular issue of the blue and white track-suited Chinese security which have caused controversy in London and elsewhere. Lisa Holland said the lack of numbers of the ‘flame attendants‘ struck her as significant. She said they were “caked in so much controversy” and were “oppressive” in their “taking control of the situation” in previous relays. She also referred to Lord Coe’s comments. He had said the Chinese security were “thugs” who had pushed him around several times in London. Another observation made by Sky's reporters was how long each of the torch bearers were holding the torch. With only 3 km and 70 torch bearers, the torch remained in the hands of each runner for a short time. CNN’s Anjali Rao said each runner held the torch for less than thirty seconds before handing it onto the next person in the relay.

CNN provided the most extensive coverage providing Live pictures throughout most of the event. Both Sky and the BBC showed only sporadic coverage of the Live event. There were none of the violent scenes that have disrupted previous relays and only a few supporters along the route waving Chinese flags. “It is certainly not the unrestrained joy expected” said John Vause reporting from Beijing. The CNN correspondent said that China were using the relay as a temperature gauge. “It’s all about the countries which have supported it [China] and those that did not” John Vause said.

As for the temperatures on the ground, runners had to endure blazing sunshine and 33 degree heat as they jogged along the Rajpath to India Gate. They did not however run into protestors who were kept well back. Sky News, quoting AFP, said that 180 demonstrators had been arrested along the route of the torch relay. But the relay itself finished peacefully with the Olympic cauldron being lit at 11:50 GMT bringing a close to proceedings at least as far as Live television coverage was concerned. The next instalment of this Olympic saga continues in Bangkok, Thailand where temperatures of 36 degrees and possible thunder storms are expected. Tempers are also expected to be high during the next stop in this controversial torch relay [Beijing 2008 / 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay / CNN / BBC / Sky News].

Meanwhile China has summoned CNN’s bureau chief to the Foreign Ministry following controversial comments by Jack Cafferty earlier this month. The network's bureau chief in Beijing, Jaime FlorCruz, said he was summoned on Wednesday evening to meet with Liu Jianchao, the senior Foreign Ministry spokesman. He said the spokesman told him that the ministry did not view CNN's statement about the comments as an apology. A CNN statement issued Tuesday said, "It was not Mr. Cafferty's, nor CNN's intent to cause offense to the Chinese people, and (CNN) would apologize to anyone who has interpreted the comments in this way."
The TV network said Cafferty was offering his "strongly held" opinion of the Chinese government, not China's people. It also noted that "over many years, Jack Cafferty has expressed critical comments on many governments, including the U.S. government and its leaders." Neither CNN nor the Chinese authorities have said if any action might be taken against the news channel which has several correspondents working both in Beijing and Hong Kong [CNN].