Press Releases
Tibetan Olympics Torch Relay, San Francisco Chapter
SAN FRANCISCO, US, 30 March 2008 — As the world prepares for the Beijing Olympics in August 2008, Tibetans will be left out: Because their country has been occupied by China.
China has been awarded the honour of hosting the 2008 world Olympics, on the condition that China would improve the conduct of its regime, so as to live by the spirit of the Olympics.
The recent beatings and killings by Chinese security forces of peaceful monks and laypeople demonstrating for greater freedom, the return of the Dalai Lama, and the creation of a free Tibet, shows that China still faces many challenges in the support of human rights and justice.
The Tibetan demonstrations in Tibet, defying brutal crackdowns by the Chinese security forces, openly show that Tibetans still rebuke Chinese rule.
Organisers of the Tibetan Olympics insist that their message is not against holding the Olympics in China. Instead, they would like to see peace and stability in China to allow the 2008 Olympics to be a success.
In Chinese President Hu Jintao's speech on March 6, 2008, he said that stability in Tibet is linked with stability in the whole of China. However, this statement asserts the need for supporting actions that adopt a realistic approach towards the Tibetan issue and negotiations with the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamshala, India.
The Tibetan Olympics torch relay in San Francisco is a part of the Tibetan Olympics 2008, to be held in Dharamshala from May 15-25. The Tibetan Olympics consists of ten sporting events attempted by each individual, competing for men and women's championships.
The torch will travel from the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge at 11.00 a.m. passing across the bridge and through the Presidio to Crissy Field Center. On its around-the-world tour, it was lit in Delhi at the end of January, and has travelled to Sydney, Taiwan, Dharamshala, Tokyo and Maui. After San Francisco, it will go onwards to New York City, and then to Rio de Janeiro, London, Cape Town and Tel Aviv, returning to Dharamshala in May.
As it moves around the world, it will highlight the paradox of the 2008 Beijing Olympics: The world's most respected sporting event being held in one of the world's most repressive and brutal countries.
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[an error occurred while processing this directive]More about the San Francisco leg
- The event
- Press release: San Francisco leg of Tibetan Olympics torch relay
- News: San Francisco Torch Relay in the media
- Gallery: Photos of the San Francisco Torch Relay
More about Tibetan Olympics
- The Event: Schedule, activities, participants
- Press: Tibetan Olympics press releases
- Torch Route Organisers: Contact info
- News: Tibetan Olympics in the media
- About the Tibetan Olympics
- Gallery: Tibetan Olympics photos
- Tibetan Olympics at Wikipedia
- Tibetan Olympics at Google
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