Beijing torch relay should focus on China-IOC inspector
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-05-19 19:00
IOC inspector Hein Verbruggen believes Beijing organisers would be wasting a
huge opportunity if the main emphasis of the 2008 Olympic torch relay was not on
China.
The Beijing organisers are still putting the finishing touches to their plan,
which is likely to include a trip to the top of Mount Everest, before it is
handed to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for approval.
"They want to go abroad and we certainly will not stop them," Verbruggen told
Reuters in the Chinese capital at the end of a three-day IOC inspection of
preparations for the Games.
"However, I think it would be a tremendously missed opportunity if the
emphasis of their torch relay was not on their own country.
"Given the fact that you're talking about 20 percent of the world's
population. Given the fact that you have a vast country with enormous
differences in scenery and many beautiful things to see."
The relay of the "flame of peace" has become a carefully organised spectacle
and before the last Summer Games in 2004 it visited 34 cities in 27 countries
around the world before arriving in Athens.
"There is this little danger that organising committees, I'm not speaking
about Beijing, always want to do a little bit more than the previous organising
committee," Verbruggen said.
"Sydney (2000) took the torch to the islands of the South Sea, Athens was a
special case and wanted to visit all the previous Olympic cities, and there is
this tendency to try and better that.
"So we have said to all future organising committees, 'guys, it is not
necessary to go abroad'."
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