Olympics torch in DAR

As the Olympics torch continues its journey to Beijing, China for the 2008 Olympic Games, residents in the Tanzanian commercial city of Dar es Salaam are ignorant of the international sports symbol’s relay leg in their city. Dar-es-salaam is the only African city that will be hosting the Olympics torch leg from April 11-13. Dar-es-salaam residents are not expected to protest China’s actions in Tibet. The torch relay has been disrupted in Athens, Istanbul, London and Paris by protesters opposed to China’s policies in Tibet and overall human rights record. More protests were held Wednesday in San Francisco, the only North American leg of the relay. The Olympic torch is expected to arrive in Tanzania on April 11 enroute from Buenos Aires, Argentina. It will head to Muscat, Oman the following day after the Tanzania show. Tanzania is expected to host a peaceful Olympic torch relay following the chaotic scenes in Paris and London in the past three days. In Paris, constant interruptions by hundreds of campaigners protesting China’s human rights record, forced officials to extinguish the torch several times before the planned procession was halted. Similar scuffles were seen in London on Sunday, where 37 arrests were made after rowdy protests. After Dar es Salaam, the torch is scheduled to travel to Muscat, Oman, and then to a dozen other countries before entering mainland China on May 4 for the domestic portion of the relay. Meanwhile, the Tanzanian Ministry of Information, Culture and Sports has launched a committee which will handle the 2008 Olympic Touch Relay in Dar es Salaam. The Dar es Salaam Mayor, Adam Kimbisa, is the head of all committees. The 2008 Olympic Torch Relay is organized by China under the sponsorship of Coca-Cola and Samsung. IOC mulls cancellation of torch relay The International Olympic Committee said it will consider the future of the remaining portion of international leg of the Beijing Olympic torch relay as a result of anti-Chinese protests that have dogged the event. Rogge said the rule-making board would consider the options on Friday. On Monday, organizers were forced to cancel the last third of the Paris route after demonstrators hurled water at the flame and lunged at torchbearers. Ends

Lifestyle

Olympics torch in DAR