Editing 2008 Summer Olympics (section)

== Torch relay ==
[[File:Official 2008 Summer Olympics Torch in Vilnius.jpg|thumb|2008 Olympic Torch in [[Vilnius]], Lithuania]]

{{Main|2008 Summer Olympics torch relay|2008 Summer Olympics torch relay route}}

The design of the 2008 [[Olympic Torch]] was based on traditional scrolls and used a traditional Chinese design known as the "Propitious Clouds" (祥云). The torch was designed to remain lit in 65&nbsp;km/h (40&nbsp;mph) winds, and in rain of up to 50&nbsp;mm (2&nbsp;in) per hour.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/news/headlines/image07/s214233067/n214233090.shtml | title=The Image and Look – The Torch | work=[[Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games]] | date=16 January 2008 | access-date=24 October 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514013509/http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/news/headlines/image07/s214233067/n214233090.shtml | archive-date=14 May 2013}}</ref>

The relay, with the theme "Journey of Harmony", was met with protests and demonstrations by pro-Tibet supporters throughout its journey. It lasted 130&nbsp;days and carried the torch {{convert|137000|km|mi|abbr=on}}—the longest distance of any Olympic torch relay since the tradition began at the [[1936 Berlin Games]].<ref name="IOC torch">{{cite news|date=26 April 2007 |title=Beijing 2008: BOCOG Announces Olympic Torch Relay Route |url=http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=2147 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070429032528/http://www.olympic.org/uk/news/olympic_news/full_story_uk.asp?id=2147 |archive-date=29 April 2007 |publisher=[[International Olympic Committee]] |access-date=26 April 2007 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/09/world/09torch.html | title=Officials Expect Olympic Torch to Continue on Route | work=The New York Times | first1=Graham | last1=Bowley | first2=John | last2=Sullivan | date=9 April 2008 | access-date=4 February 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004104046/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/09/world/09torch.html | archive-date=4 October 2018 | url-status=live }}</ref> The torch relay was described as a "public relations disaster" for China by ''[[USA Today]]'',<ref name="Public Relations Disaster">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-04-29-torch-vietnam_N.htm|title=Vietnamese cheer torch, last int'l stop|date=29 April 2008|access-date=20 June 2009|work=USA Today|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707031454/http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-04-29-torch-vietnam_N.htm|archive-date=7 July 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> with protests against China's human rights record, particularly focused on [[2008 Tibetan unrest|Tibet]]. The IOC subsequently barred future Olympics organizers from staging international torch relays.<ref>{{cite news|last=Zinser |first=Lynn |title=I.O.C. Bars International Torch Relays |work=The New York Times |date=27 March 2009 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/28/sports/othersports/28torch.html |access-date=28 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514135658/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/28/sports/othersports/28torch.html |archive-date=14 May 2013 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

The relay began 24 March 2008, in [[Olympia, Greece]]. From there, it traveled across Greece to [[Panathinaiko Stadium]] in Athens, and then to Beijing, arriving on 31 March. From Beijing, the torch followed a route passing through every continent except [[Antarctica]]. The torch visited cities on the [[Silk Road]], symbolizing ancient links between China and the rest of the world. A total of 21,880 torchbearers were selected from around the world by various organizations and entities.<ref name="BOCOG relay">{{cite news |url=http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/news/headlines/n214042288.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308103032/http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/news/headlines/n214042288.shtml |archive-date=8 March 2008 | title=Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay Planned Route and Torch Design unveiled | work=[[Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games]] | date=26 April 2007 | access-date=26 April 2007}}</ref>

The international portion of the relay was problematic. The month-long world tour encountered wide-scale anti-Chinese protests. After trouble in London involving attempts by protesters to put out the flame, the torch was extinguished in Paris the following day.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1584227/Olympic-torch-extinguished-three-times.html| title=Olympic torch extinguished three times| access-date=20 June 2009| work=The Daily Telegraph| location=London| last=Samuel| first=Henry| date=7 April 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318064100/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1584227/Olympic-torch-extinguished-three-times.html| archive-date=18 March 2009| url-status=live}}</ref> The American leg in San Francisco on 9 April was altered without prior warning to avoid such disturbances, although there were still demonstrations along the original route.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7339380.stm|title=Confusion strikes US torch relay|date=9 April 2008|work=BBC News|access-date=4 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712212724/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7339380.stm|archive-date=12 July 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> The relay was further delayed and simplified after the [[2008 Sichuan earthquake]] hit [[western China]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/news/story?id=3445844|publisher=ESPN|title=Organizers not saying why torch's arrival in Tibet delayed|date=16 June 2006|access-date=20 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106194508/http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/news/story?id=3445844|archive-date=6 November 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Beijing 2008 Torch Relay Route.png|left|thumb|Route of the 2008 Olympic Torch Relay]]

The flame was [[2008 Summer Olympics summit of Mt. Everest|carried to the top of Mount Everest]]<ref name="BOCOG relay" /> on a {{convert|108|km|mi|abbr=on}} long "highway" scaling the Tibetan side of the mountain, built especially for the relay. The $19.7&nbsp;million blacktop project spanned from [[Tingri County]] of [[Xigazê Prefecture]] to the [[Everest Base Camp]].<ref name="Everest road">{{cite news |url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/007200706200340.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080111221824/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/007200706200340.htm |archive-date=11 January 2008 |title=China to build highway on Mt Everest for 2008 Olympics |date=20 June 2007 |access-date=25 June 2007 |work=The Hindu |location=India}}</ref> In March 2008, China banned mountaineers from climbing its side of Mount Everest, and later persuaded the Nepalese government to close their side as well, officially citing environmental concerns.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/climbers-banned-from-everest-as-china-seeks-to-stop-protests-on-summit-796782.html |title=Climbers banned from Everest as China seeks to stop protests on summit |date=17 March 2008 |access-date=23 March 2008 |work=The Independent |location=London |first1=Michael |last1=McCarthy |first2=Jack |last2=Geldard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405092649/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/climbers-banned-from-everest-as-china-seeks-to-stop-protests-on-summit-796782.html |archive-date= 5 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It also reflected concerns by the Chinese government that Tibet activists might try to disrupt its plans to carry the Olympic torch up the world's tallest peak.<ref name="cnn13mar08">{{cite news | url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/20/nepal.torch.oly/index.html | title=Nepal: Everest pro-Tibet protesters may be shot | work=[[CNN]] | date=20 April 2008 | access-date=20 June 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100307231244/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/04/20/nepal.torch.oly/index.html | archive-date=7 March 2010 | url-status=live }}</ref>

The originally proposed route would have taken the torch through [[Taipei]] after leaving [[Vietnam]] and before heading for Hong Kong. However, the government of [[Taiwan]] (then led by the [[Taiwan independence|independence]]-leaning [[Democratic Progressive Party]]) objected to this proposal, claiming that this route would make the portion of the relay in Taiwan appear to be part of the torch's domestic journey through China, rather than a leg on the international route.<ref name="Taiwan relay">{{cite news |url=http://taiwanjournal.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=24170&CtNode=122 | title=Taiwan rejects 'domestic' Olympic torch route | work=[[Taiwan Journal]] | date=4 May 2007 | access-date=15 August 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411165900/http://taiwanjournal.nat.gov.tw/ct.asp?xItem=24170&CtNode=122 | archive-date=11 April 2008}}</ref> This dispute, as well as Chinese demands that the [[flag of the Republic of China|flag]] and the [[National Anthem of the Republic of China|national anthem of the Republic of China]] be banned along the route led the government of Taiwan to reject the proposal that it be part of the relay route. The two sides of the Taiwan Strait subsequently blamed each other for injecting politics into the event.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7005984.stm | title=Olympic torch will bypass Taiwan | work=[[BBC News]] | date=21 September 2007 | access-date=20 June 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930022455/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7005984.stm | archive-date=30 September 2009 | url-status=live }}</ref>