Wall-to-wall celebrations as Olympic fever grips China

AS DOVES flew into the misty sky and confetti rained down on to one of the world's great icons, Olympic fever could truly be said to have arrived in China.

On the Great Wall thousands of yellow-clad volunteers, snaking away as far as the eye could see, danced and waved flags as part of the second day of the torch's tour round Beijing.

The spectacular ceremony, which saw streams of confetti shot into the air, was staged on the eve of what promises to be the most spectacular opening ceremony in Olympic history.

The troubled 130-day torch relay will end finally today at the ceremony in the spectacular Bird's Nest stadium, footage of which will be beamed to an estimated one billion television viewers around the world.

Weng Chengyu, a 28-year-old student watching yesterday's torch parade on the Great Wall, summed up the feelings of many of those at the festivities.

He said: "There have been problems with the torch, but now is the time for the party.

"You see all this?" he said, as patriotic music blared out from loudspeakers, echoing around the wall, as drums and cymbals thundered out a pounding beat. "This shows how much the Chinese love the Olympics."

Xiaohong Lu, who has accompanied the relay around the world, added: "We have travelled to so many cities from Olympia to the Great Wall, we have cried so many times.

"It is very emotional, especially when you see the reaction of the Chinese crowds."

Beijing has ramped up security ahead of the Games, with missile launchers guarding the main venues and a special 100,000-strong security force on alert for both terrorists and human rights protesters.

But with the haze cutting visibility down to around a mile in the city, Beijing's polluted air took centre stage again as the most pressing problem facing the organisers of the Games.

Beijing's air pollution index was yesterday recorded at 96, which came close to exceeding the national level for acceptable air. Levels between 51-100 are considered moderate pollution, and anything over 100 is harmful to sensitive groups, including children and the elderly.

But Jacques Rogge, the head of the International Olympic Committee, praised Beijing's "extraordinary" efforts to cut pollution.

He said there was "absolutely no danger" to the health of athletes taking part in events that last less than one hour, but he said if the pollution was bad, events which lasted more than that could be shifted or postponed.

August is thunderstorm season in Beijing, and organisers have talked of using experimental technology to "seed" rain clouds to ensure it stays dry for today's opening. However, it is forecast that this will not be needed, although some scattered rain is possible.

A spokesman for the China Meteorological Administration said: "During the opening ceremony it will mainly be cloudy."

Meanwhile, Mr Rogge insisted athletes would be prevented from staging any political protests at official venues – in accordance with Rule 51 of the Olympic charter, which forbids athletes from making political, religious, commercial or racial statements.

But he said they were free to do this in protest areas provided by the Chinese authorities, and that "common sense" would be used to judge violations.

Mr Rogge pledged the Beijing Games would show the world "the real China". He said: "Not only are the Chinese addressing the world, but they are addressing 1.3 billion people in their own country, and I think we will see the real China.

"I think this will mean a lot for the perception of China. The rest of the world

will find a country with 5,000 years of history, a fascinating country. I believe the spotlight on China will help the world to understand China, and it will also help China to understand the world."

Heroes' welcome for Britons after pro-Tibet protest

TWO Britons arrested in China for unfurling pro-Tibet banners outside the Olympic Stadium in Beijing were given a rousing welcome after arriving back in the UK yesterday.

Iain Thom, 24, from Edinburgh, and Lucy Fairbrother, 23, from Cambridge, returned to cheers after being ordered out of China for staging the demonstration just hours before the Olympic Torch was due to arrive in Tiananmen Square.

Mr Thom scaled a 120ft pylon with Phil Bartell, one of two American protesters who also took part in the stunt. Police called in fire trucks with ladders to try to reach the pair, who eventually descended peacefully as crowds gathered. All four were ordered out after Wednesday's protest.

After arriving back at London City Airport, to a scrum of supporters, family members and media, Mr Thom said it had been easy to scale the pylon because climbing was a hobby.

He added: "It was not difficult to get through the security as we had been planning this for four years.

"We wanted to make a call to world leaders and the Chinese government for meaningful change. We knew there were risks, but they were nothing compared to the suffering Tibetans have endured."

Ms Fairbrother said: "We are only a very small part of this campaign and the ongoing struggle. We'll carry on fighting and there will be more protests during the Olympics."

President's speech on rights raises tensions

US PRESIDENT George Bush arrived in Beijing amid mounting tension after expressing "deep concerns" over China's human rights record.

In a speech in Thailand on the eve of the opening ceremony of the Olympics, he talked of his "firm opposition" to detention of dissidents and religious activists.

His criticism drew a sharp response from China's foreign ministry, which made clear its opposition to external interference in its affairs.

Despite insisting he wanted his visit to Beijing to be about sport and not politics, Mr Bush said: "The US believes the people of China deserve the fundamental liberty that is the natural right of all human beings.

"America stands in firm opposition to China's detention of political dissidents and human rights advocates and religious activists. We press for openness and justice not to impose our beliefs, but to allow the Chinese people to express theirs."

But Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said: "The Chinese government puts people first, and is dedicated to maintaining and promoting its citizens' basic rights and freedom.

"Chinese citizens have freedom of religion. These are indisputable facts. We firmly oppose any words or acts that interfere in other countries' internal affairs, using human rights and religion and other issues."

Mr Bush is walking a diplomatic tightrope in going to Beijing, hoping to avoid embarrassing China, but also facing criticism from human rights groups for not speaking out more forcefully.