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IOC move to scrap global torch relays draws flak

By Cui Xiaohuo (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-03-28 08:38

The International Olympic Committee (IOC)'s decision to scrap global torch relays during future Games was a clear signal that the international governing body wants to avoid political controversies, Beijing Olympic officials and experts said on Friday.

Chinese athletes, who were torchbearers at last year's Beijing Olympics, voiced their disappointment at the decision.

Related readings:  IOC calls for end of international torch relays

Last year, the Olympic torch relay became a platform for anti-China protestors as it made its way to Beijing. Some of the biggest protests were in London, Paris and San Francisco.

Wei Jizhong, a senior consultant to the Beijing Olympic organizers and the president of the International Volleyball Federation, told China Daily from Lausanne, Switzerland, that "the IOC wants no more involvement in political issues. This is the main reason for the decision."

Ren Hai, an Olympics expert at the Beijing Sports University, said: "The international torch relay has been a costly plan to carry out and the IOC has never encouraged it since the Athens Games."

The IOC decided during its executive board meeting in Denver on Thursday that torch relays would be held only within the borders of host countries. "After the relay in Athens, which was the first international relay, we came to the conclusion that it was easier for the torch to stay inside the country," IOC executive director Gilbert Felli said on the sidelines of the IOC meeting.

The IOC board decided to ban international relays starting from the 2016 Summer Games. Chicago, Tokyo, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro have launched bids to host the games.

Organizers of both next year's Winter Games in Vancouver and the 2012 Summer Games in London have already decided to drop overseas torch relay plans from their schedules.

"It will be a pity because millions of Chinese may not have another chance to hold the Olympic torch again for a long time," said Sang Lan, a former gymnast and two-time Olympic torch-bearer.

Gao Hong, the retired goalkeeper of the women's soccer team and a torch-bearer at last year's Games, said it would be hard for veteran athletes outside the host countries to participate in future torch relays.