Word: torch
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...Less than 100 days before the start of the Summer Olympics, a creeping sense of unease pervades Beijing. The March riots in Tibet and the rough passage of the Olympic torch through some foreign cities has intensified official concern that the Games will bring trouble to the Chinese capital. In response, authorities have issued terror warnings, canceled public events and subjected foreigners to a higher level of scrutiny. Even as Beijing dashes to complete preparations to welcome the world in August, the city suddenly feels less welcoming...
...Olympiads in modern times, offering a unique platform for protest groups seeking to highlight issues ranging from the host country's crackdown in Tibet and its economic ties with the Sudanese government responsible for the atrocities in Darfur to its domestic political repression. Already, demonstrators have disrupted the Olympic torch relay in Paris, San Francisco and other stops, sparking nationalist outrage on the streets of China. As August's opening ceremonies draw closer, athletes heading for Beijing are increasingly aware that they're heading into a season of political controversy - particularly since many of those mounting the protests are demanding...
Modern China and Japan have never been close. There's just been too much history between the two countries. But ties have improved lately and Beijing's Olympic torch made its tour of Nagano City without much incident last week (unlike a later, tumultuous journey through South Korea). But now, just as Tokyo is about to welcome Chinese President Hu Jintao on a relatively extended state visit, a strange omen has occured: Ling Ling, the only panda that China has given rather than loaned to Japan, has died...
...torch relay in Nagano came off without serious incident because it had to. The public was not allowed at the car park where the relay began at 8:30 a.m., after the Zenkoji monks held a prayer ceremony for victims of the recent uprising in Tibet. Shortly afterwards, pro-Chinese demonstrators yelled "Zhongguo, jia you!" (which means "China, go for it!") at pro-Tibet demonstrators who yelled back "Free Tibet." That dialogue continued at high volume throughout most of the 5-hour relay...
...More than 100 police officers ran with the torch as it was passed along by about 80 runners. Riot police lined the streets. Three helicopters flew overhead. But only two Chinese guards were allowed to accompany the flame, because of Japan's concern over their treatment of demonstrators during previous relays. A man with a Tibetan flag tried to stop the torch early on and was immediately dragged away by police. But aside from a few minor deterrences - including a few raw eggs tossed from the crowd - the torch bearers' passage was without incident. The flame arrived at its final...