'olympic games' - tagged features

The Olympic torch has begun its long journey from its spiritual home in Southern Greece to Beijing for this summer's Olympic games. Tibetan activists have however threatened to harry and harrass the torch as it's carried around the world. This week they disrupted the ceremony to light the flame at Ancient Olympia causing huge embarrassment both to Greece and China. 

More and more European leaders have sharpened their tone over Tibet this week. Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Didier Reynders, said he would not rule out a boycott if the situation in Tibet worsens. And French President Nicolas Sarkozy did the same. Meanwhile the head of the European Parliament invited the Dalai Lama to address EU lawmakers on the situation in Tibet. And, he also raised the option of boycotting the opening ceremony. But what would a boycott achieve? Marco Cappato is an Italian liberal democrat member of the European Parliament. 

The French media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders, sent three people to Olympia, in Greece, to disrupt the torch lighting ceremony. Vincent Brossel was one of the Reporters Without Borders activists who disrupted the ceremony and was later arrested. He was released on parole, and returned to France where he spoke with Jan van der Made.