Politics and pollution head Olympic agenda

Politics and pollution look set to become increasingly dominant topics as Beijing gears up to host the Olympic Games in August. Hardly a day has passed lately without some new story about Tibet, Sudan, terror threats, smog or a range of other controversial issues.

The Olympic torch's journey around the world was disrupted before it was even lit as demonstrators demanding free speech in China broke through the security cordon in Olympia, home of the ancient Games.

As a ripple of applause spread through the crowd and Chinese athletes looked uncomfortable, an unfazed Liu Qi, Beijing's Communist Party chief and Games organising chairman, announced: 'The Olympic flame will radiate light and happiness, peace and friendship, and hope and dreams to the people of China and the whole world.'

But Tenzin Dorjee, from Students for a Free Tibet, warned: 'Later we will do protests in Paris and London.'

The torch was due in London on April 6 with protests expected about China's human rights record, repression in Tibet and the way the country has exercised its influence in Burma and Darfur.

Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, said the Games would offer's chance for the Chinese people to respect other cultures'.

The plans of hundreds of climbers have been disrupted by China's decision to close Mount Everest to prevent any disruption as the torch passes over the world's highest mountain.

But the exiled Dalai Lama offered to meet Chinese leaders over the future of riot-torn Tibet. He also pledged to resign as the temporal leader of Tibetan Buddhists if the violence - on both sides - did not stop.

AIR POLLUTION
Fears about air pollution prompted world record holder Haile Gebrselassie to announce his withdrawal from the Olympic marathon - although he does plan to run the 10,000m in the stadium. British coach Sean Kelly said he did not expect the open water event to be affected, as it will be in the rowing lake well outside Beijing.

PROTESTOR JAILED

A man was jailed for five years-the maximum penalty - for protesting against the Beijing Olympics. Yang Chunlin, 52, collected 10,000 signatures on a petition which declared: 'We don't want the Olympics-we want human rights.'

Prosecutors said the petition was 'subversive' and stained China's international image.

TERROR THREAT
Fears that the 2008 Olympics are a target for Muslim terrorists grew after two incidents in western China. The Chinese authorities claimed that the flight crew of a passengerjet foiled highjackers intent on crashing a plane during an internal flight to Beijing.

In a separate incident, two militants were killed, 15 arrested and five policemen wounded after police uncovered a plot to sabotage the Olympics. A spokesman said, 'There are always a few people who conspire to commit sabotage. It is no longer a secret now.'

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