The Olympic flame has arrived in the city amidst controversy stemming from the Chinese government's treatment of Tibet, the flame is due to be paraded this morning at 10am.
In a leading article in the Sunday Times commentator Simon Jenkins has lambasted those who are planning to attend the Olympic torch event by saying: "Today’s London publicity stunt for the Chinese regime should be ignored by the public and any reputable athlete or politician, unless to register a fierce protest. The four-month “journey of harmony” of the Olympic torch (or many cloned torches) through 21 nations is an exercise in political laundering. It is appalling that the prime minister is to “greet” his torch in Downing Street."
The Olympic torch event according to Jenkins report has nothing to do with sport, but is a carefully stage managed event by the Chinese Government and the IOC wih "celebrity runners" in each country approved by sponsers like Coca-Cola, Lenovo and Samsung.
Jenkins pours scorn on individuals like Tim Henman, Sir Trevor McDonald, Vanessa-Mae, the Sugababes, Ken Livingstone and Gordon Brown. And says "It shows how craven Britain has become to its membership of the so-called Olympic family and its Chinese parents."
"Participants in today’s display are thus endorsing an event the climax of which is to celebrate a dictator’s conquest of a neighbour. When Saddam Hussein did that to Kuwait, Britain went to war. The least Britain owes the Tibetans is not to add to their humiliation. Playing sport is one thing, political cheerleading is another."
The Olympic torch began at Ancient Olympia and has crossed Europe to reach London. London will be hosting the Olympics in 2012.
The death toll from a plane crash in the Democratic Republic of Congo climbed to 38 on Wednesday, the governor of the Nord-Kivu province told CNN. Julien Mpaluku said there were still charred bodies amid the wreckage that had not been removed, and 20 people are unaccounted for.
