[Claire ex-ax]

China clearly wants to control all entry by foreigners as foreigners cannot be trusted, even in their own countries...

From that bastion of British journalism (not!), the Daily Mail:

Lord Coe last night condemned the army of Chinese "thugs" who accompanied the Olympic torch relay through London.

The head of London's 2012 Games described as "horrible" the burly henchmen who barged their way through the capital, shoving the public and even police out of the way.

His trenchant remarks followed those of former Blue Peter presenter and torchbearer Konnie Huq, who revealed the Chinese minders barked orders at her and pushed her arm up to hold the flame higher.

Sunday's scenes, which were repeated in France yesterday, brought accusations that Britain had imported Chinese police state tactics to control the supposedly showcase relay.

Lord Coe made his remarks during a conference phone call, which unknown to him, was being recorded by a Channel 4 reporter who had been put through accidentally.

Referring to the Chinese security guards, who were in France yesterday with the torch on the next leg of its world tour, he said: "One thing in Paris is to get rid of those guys. They tried to push me out of the way three times. They are horrible. They did not speak English. They were thugs."

Wearing blue tracksuits, the 14 minders surrounded the symbolic flame, pushing anyone who tried to get near, as it was relayed 31 miles across London.

Miss Huq, one of 80 torchbearers said: "The men in blue perplexed everyone. Nobody seemed to know who they were officially or what their title was. They were very robotic, very full on, and I noticed them having skirmishes with our own police and the Olympic authorities before our leg of the relay, which was confusing.

"They were barking orders at me, like 'Run! Stop!' and I was like, 'Oh my gosh, who are these people?'

"They kept pushing my hand up higher when I was holding the torch, so they were...interesting."

Miss Huq was nearly knocked to the ground by a protester as thousands of campaigners disrupted the procession to demonstrate against China's human rights abuses and brutality in Tibet.

Last night organisers said the 70-year-old tradition of a torch relay around the world could be scrapped for 2012.

However, officials are drawing up plans to carry a torch around the UK to generate support for London's Games.

A 2012 spokesman said: "We are firmly committed to a strong domestic leg. We may have an international leg. We just don't know yet."

Yesterday, there was still mystery over the Chinese minders. Matt Whitticase, of the Free Tibet Campaign, said: "Who authorised them? They should have no jurisdiction on the streets of Britain.

"It is a very creepy snapshot of Chinese security coming to London. The whole thing reminded people of what policing is like in China."

The Greater London Authority, which coorganised the event, said: "They were brought over by the Beijing organising committee. They were the responsibility of Beijing."

A spokesman insisted it was the British Olympic Association which was responsible for dealing with the Chinese.

But the BOA's spokesman said: "They were nothing to do with us. The relationship they had with the Met and the GLA was the responsibility of the GLA."

The Met Police said the Chinese guards had "no executive powers" in Britain and were simply there to protect the torch.

Privately, police were said to be furious as officers were made to look ridiculous, jogging along in cycle helmets and holding hands to form a chain around the bearers.

MPs said the fiasco made Britain a laughing stock.

[KnowItAll]

Thats it .... I know I now need to get the online game created.

[Lammarite]

Chinese Democracy: The Torchbearers from Hell

followed by:

Chinese Democracy 2: The Rise of Tibet

I think you'll be onto winners with them though distribution locally may be an issue.

[KnowItAll]

Could be renamed ...

Glorious China : Patriotic Protectors of the Glowing Torch

[KnowItAll]

I can also see the background music being done by Will Smith ..

Men in Blue .. Torch Defenders!

[Boris]

So -- KIA -- you seem to be having a slow day at the office today. Its the only explanation.

[KnowItAll]

In Britain protestors tried to put out the legendary flame with Chinese "heavies" keeping them at bay, but in Paris it was police who snuffed out the flame four times for "security reasons" - once because a group of demonstrators began booing.

A police spokesman said: "We had no choice. There were so many protestors threatening a public disturbance that it was no longer practical to keep it on a public road."

Whats the word the Brits use .. surrender primates?

[Lammarite]

Originally Posted by KnowItAll

Whats the word the Brits use .. surrender primates?

Don't forget le fromage et le manger.

[jaykay]

Originally Posted by KnowItAll

Whats the word the Brits use .. surrender primates?

Normally preceded by Cheese Eating...........

[Boris]

On the Daily Show yesterday John Stewart had a good dig at the French.. Their Police where on Roller Blades and surrender was the order of the day.