Olympic Oops! Activists Nabbed Just Before the Beaming Torch
What Happened Right Before the Flame Lighting?
Just an hour before the torch lighting ceremony at the ancient site of Olympia on Monday (Oct 18), four Tibetan activists—three women and one man—were taken from the crowd and handed over to the local police station. According to their spokesperson, they weren’t rallying, waving flags, or spreading banners; they were simply caught in the buzz of the event.
Police Update
An officer from the Ancient Olympia police station said the activists were detained, but not formally arrested. “We don’t yet know how this will develop,” the official remarked, adding that no further details are available.
Other Protests Stirring the Crowd
- Sunday’s Athens Protest: Two human‑rights advocates were arrested after fluttering a Tibetan flag and hanging a banner that read “Free Hong Kong – Revolution” above the Acropolis.
- Tuesday’s Big Day: Expect more demonstrations as the flame is handed over to the Beijing Games organisers on September 13.
Political Backdrop: The Winter‑Summer Double Threat
China will become the first city to host both Winter and Summer Games, with the Feb 4‑20 competition scheduled—but it’s been marred by protests and boycott calls over its human‑rights record. Rights organisations and U.S. lawmakers are urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to postpone or relocate the event unless China ends what the U.S. describes as ongoing genocide against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities.
The Human‑Rights Clamor
Since 2016, China has been accused of detaining roughly a million Uyghurs and other Muslim groups in camps that critics claim are forced‑labour facilities. China counters that these centers are “vocational training” hubs designed to curtail extremism.
As the world watches, the intersection of sport, politics, and human rights continues to spark intense debate—and a few unexpected headlines at the Olympic flame‑lingering site.
