Leo Lewis in Tokyo and Ashling O'Connor, Olympics Correspondent
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Three of the biggest sponsors of the Beijing Olympics have scaled back their plans for next week’s Japanese leg of the torch relay amid mounting fears of violent antiChinese protests, The Times has learnt.
In the first signs of a wobble by the Games’ commercial backers after a wave of demonstrations, Coca-Cola, Samsung and Lenovo will not field their logo-covered vehicles as the flame makes its way through Nagano.
The decision emerged hours after religious leaders at a Buddhist temple in Nagano, the host city of the 1998 Winter Olympics, caused major disruption to the route by withdrawing as the starting point on April 26. Priests at the Zenkoji temple, whose imposing bell was rung to open the Nagano Games, said it was a reaction to “indiscriminate killing in Tibet”.
Yasuo Fukuda, the Japanese Prime Minister, playing host to Yang Jiechi, the visiting Chinese Foreign Minister, said that the move was “unfortunate”.
About 3,500 police and security personnel have been drafted in and at least one school has declared an impromptu holiday to protect its pupils. About 2,000 Chinese students from around Japan are expected in Nagano, raising the risk of clashes with ultra-right nationalist groups.
The torch has encountered protests on almost every leg of its global tour. The worst clashes between police and pro-Tibet demonstrators occurred in London, Paris and Delhi.
The withdrawal of branded vehicles from the Japan leg is the first example of sponsors playing down their association with the torch, which has become a magnet for activists. The adverse public reaction has forced Olympic sponsors to implement crisis management strategies devised when Beijing was controversially awarded the Games in 2001, according to experts. The aim is to protect their multimillion-pound investments and ensure no lasting damage to their brands.
“They have always known that it would be tough with China hosting the Olympics but the risks have escalated,” said Damien Ryan, a Hong Kong-based adviser to Olympic sponsors. “Now they’re having to alter their communications strategy on the run because the situation is changing fast. But they’ve done their research. There are responses to scenarios from A to Z that can be rolled out.”
Coca-Cola has come under intense lobbying from Dream for Darfur, the group led by the Hollywood actress Mia Farrow, which staged protests outside its annual shareholder meeting this week. The Atlanta-based company and 18 other Olympic sponsors are the target of its campaign, calling for people watching the Games to change the channel or turn off their TVs during their advertisements.
Coca-Cola has responded to activists by saying it has pledged more than $5 million to help to solve Darfur’s water issues and more than $7 million over the next three years towards humanitarian efforts in Sudan. It also plans to meet at least one pro-Tibet group.
But it has been a sponsor of the Olympics for 80 years, toughing it out through the 1936 Nazi Games, the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre in Mexico, the slaughter of Israeli athletes in Munich in 1972 and the 1980 Moscow boycott. Beijing 2008 will be no different, according to industry watchers.
“There have been many wobbles but the Olympic rings are the most recognised symbol on the planet and sponsors think there is more to gain than to lose,” said Kevin Roberts, editorial director of Sport Business Group.
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I was watching news coverage of the anti France/West demonstrations in China yesterday and I was disturbed to see people waving banners of Mao Tse-tung.
I had thought Mao like Stalin, Hitler and Pol Pot had been consigned to the rogueâs gallery of 20th century history as mass murdering totalitarian dictators, basically the dregs of humanity.
The fact that some Chinese where waving Mao banners just shows that the demonstrations are fuelled by an outpouring of unthinking nationalistic sentiment, of the same kind that has caused so much death and suffering throughout history.
There are more than enough problems in the world without stirring up more by this "My country, right or wrongâ sentiment.
Ian, Mansfield, England
Steve from Ogden, Utah, the most appaling thing I found is how deep your misconception about China is. It's not that we have no access to western media, it's that you really don't have any idea of our version of all the stories about Tibet, Taiwan, food scare, media freedom...and so on.
Though I live in China, I majored in English and i learned French and Japanes, and now watch Cable News everyday. I have nothing to do with our governments and i don't really feel anything that is aimed at indoctrinating me. But believe me, over the issue of Tibet, the insiders do know much more about outsiders.
Last year I was in Lhasa for three months. It was then a harmonious and peaceful city. I and my British friends stayed in a hotel completely owned by Tibetans, they hired Han Chinese to be guards and chef. In the same alley there was a small Tibetan tea shop, everyday Han Chinese and Tibetans drank the same pot of milk tea. There was absolutly so sign of any hatred against each other.
Jiale Ma, Beijing,
Zenkouji is now intimidated by unknown people in the Chinese-held 2-channel site. I am not sure whether they are serious or not, but the site shows messages that unknown men and women plan to fire the Zenkouji temple on April 26. The temple will have a funeral service for Tibetans killed by Beijing and Hans, who were involved in the Chinese government violence.
I wish people who love peace to pray for these victims together (even if you are not a Buddhist) on your way. Also please pray with us that nothing wrong happen on the temple.
Chika, Portland, Oregon
Free chinese people from chinese communist leaxders?
carefour, Madison , US/ Wi
Actually, there is a comment from people who actually live inside China. This is the comment from me, a Chinese girl, living in Guangzhou. It is wrong for you to say that Chineses government block all the links, for I can now access to this news links and other websides as well. As a matter of fact, we can receive information from both Chinese government and western media, and that's probably the reason why there is a webside held by Chinese students called anti-CNN. If we couldn't have access to western websites, how could we protest against some of your bias. Since you are a Chinese lover, I was wondering have you ever been to China in person?
If not, I want to tell you it is definitely not a prison like you may have imagined. Chinese people are aware of the fact that there are still some flaws in the current social system and the policy of the government. However, you can't deny we are making progress. That's probably why our economy is booming and we are proud of being Chinese.
Rachel, Guangzhou, China
It's funny, out of all these web newscasts about the incidents going on with the 2008 Beijing games I haven't found a single comment from someone actually living inside China. Of course, I know the reasons for this, and hopefully you all do too. For those who don't know, it's because the Chinese government restricts access to news. I know a few people in China who have attempted to access news links concerning the protests, and all attempts have failed. The links are blocked. The Chinese government allows only "state approved" sites. I love China, and I love the Chinese people, but if the Chinese people were actually permitted to know the truth without fear of being imprisoned, then Chinese anger would be directed at the guilty parties. The guilty parties being the irresponsible, paranoid thugs in the Chinese government. Free Tibet, and Free China!!!
Steve, Ogden, Utah
What the Japanese did to China was disgusting, the opium war was despicable, and Chinaâs occupation of Tibet is a disgrace.
Sadly it seems that the victims of Bullies quickly become bullies themselves as soon as they get an opportunity.
It happens in the school yard and in international politics too
Mike, Nottingham, England
Indiscriminate killing in Tibet? You mean the discriminate killing of Han Chinese by Tibetan people.....
Lara, Manchester,
Like the japanese are anyone to complain about indiscriminate killing. Were where the cries for human rights when the japanese came to china to rape and massacre us in our millions. just curious.
David, Weymouth, Dorset