As the Olympic torch winds its way across the globe from Greece to China, the host country of this year's Games, human rights demonstrators say they'll be following every step of the way.
The Beijing Olympics' flame-lighting ceremony in Ancient Olympia, Greece, was overshadowed Monday by protesters from Reporters Without Borders and a Tibetan woman covered in fake blood who threw herself in front of the torchbearer.
Three men from Reporters Without Borders ran onto the stadium field during a speech by Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Olympics organizing committee and Beijing Communist Party Secretary.
The protesters were quickly detained by police but one of the men was still able to hold up a black flag showing the five Olympic rings replaced with handcuffs.
"If the Olympic flame is sacred, human rights are even more so," the group said in a statement Monday. "We cannot let the Chinese government seize the Olympic flame, a symbol of peace, without denouncing the dramatic situation of human rights in the country."
Officials have confirmed that three French nationals were taken into custody. Reporters Without Borders is calling on heads of state to boycott the opening ceremony for the Games.
Tibetan activists say Monday's protest won't be their last.
"Later we will do protests in London and Paris," said Tenzin Dorjee, a member of Students for a Free Tibet.
The protests occurred after International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said he was engaged in "silent diplomacy" with China -- but that we also wouldn't intervene in politics in an effort to change its policies.
"We are discussing on a daily basis with Chinese authorities, including discussing these issues, while strictly respecting the sovereignty of China in its affairs," Rogge told The Associated Press in an interview.
Following Monday's disruption, the flame for the Summer Olympics in Beijing was lit by an actress, who was dressed as a high priestess.
But, as the torch made its way to a nearby village, a Tibetan woman covered in red paint, lay on the road in front of the torchbearer.
The runner came within a few metres of the protester, who was quickly removed by plainclothes police officers.
Protesters could be heard chanting "Free Tibet" and "Shame on China." A man waving a Tibetan flag was also taken into custody by police.
Rogge attended the ceremony, held at the 2,800-year-old birthplace of the games in southern Greece.
"It's always sad when there are protests. But they were not violent and I think that's the important thing,'' Rogge said.
China has become the focus of the world's attention ahead of the Games because of demonstrations against the government in Tibet.
On March 14, riots in Lhasa, Tibet's capital, turned violent and prompted further demonstrations in neighbouring regions.
On Sunday, the Chinese media attacked the Dalai Lama, accusing him of orchestrating the current unrest in Tibet to mar this summer's Olympics.
But the Dalai Lama struck back at China on Sunday, saying accusations he's trying to sabotage the Beijing Olympics are "baseless."
The torch is supposed to be taken through Tibet and to the top of Mount Everest.
"The more determined the Dalai clique is to ruin the torch relay and the Olympic Games, the more hard and good work we need to do on the preparation and the implementation of all aspects,'' Yin Xunping, a Communist Party official, was quoted as saying by the Tibet Daily newspaper.
With files from The Associated Press
