The Chinese government and the International Olympic Committee have repeatedly said that politics and sport should be separate and the Olympics should not be exploited for political purposes.

But their calls were ignored by the protesters, the western media and some western politicians, who ignoring the facts of the Lhasa riots, chose to believe hearsay and rumors from the Dalai Lama’s government-in-exile. Their words and actions have cheapened the Olympic spirit.

"What a glorious occasion to get attention from the international media! That's why some people have planned their show in front of the cameras, to disturb the process. It is natural." said Fu Ying, Chinese ambassador to Britain.

The London chaos wasn't the first and will not be the last. On April 3, Turkish police prevented a handful of "Xinjiang independence" activists' from demonstrating against the relay in Istanbul. On March 24 when the flame was lit in Athens, three members of “Reporters Without Borders” broke into the ground despite the tight security. Greek police quickly arrested them.

Observers expect to see more protests in Paris, San Francisco and New Delhi. But Chinese people have already organized activities via the Internet, and are preparing to escort the flame along its relay.

"We are ready," said a Chinese student named David in Paris, "We are doing this not only for love of our homeland, but also to uphold the Olympic spirit."

The San Francisco Chinese community told the International Herald Leader that they expect 10,000 Chinese to attend the welcome event for the flame in the city, the only North America venue in the torch relay.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, based in San Francisco, is likely to lose votes from the once supportive Chinese community when she runs for reelection because of her repeated denunciations of China, said an advisor to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Beijing has repeatedly urged Pelosi to respect the truth.

Li Nianci, the head of the Chinese Council for Promotion of Peaceful Reunification in Northern California, appealed to nearly 100 associations to write to Nancy Pelosi, expressing the Chinese community's support for the Beijing Olympics and its opposition to the politicization of sport.

Local authorities have promised to guarantee the security of the relay by deploying substantial police contingents. But both San Francisco and New Delhi have cut short the relay route to avoid potential conflicts.

(China.org.cn April 7, 2008)