Wow ok major major humiliation for China if this is called off. I'm not sure these protests show the true international scope of sentiments as there are nations out there and people who fully support China's right to host the Olympics without the issue of their politics being brougt in. Much as I loathe a lot of the government's policies if Hitler could host the Olmpics why can't China?? if Mexico could host the Olympics after killing 200 students why not China? boycotting and prtoesting doesn't do a thing for anyone it only angers the Chinese.

I say keep the torch realy, cancel the olympics!

I sure feel safe now that I know anyone can scale national monuments.

If it makes you feel any better, there's no way I could get my fat, lazy bum up that bridge.

Ohh, Liberty! What if they make that an Olympic Event?!

I thought that the olympics were a time when we drop all politics and gather as a world for sports. I'm not saying I am for China's policy, but how come after YEARS of Tibet's it comes out now. I think we just need to focus on our athletes that are giving their time to go over, and get over our worlds differences. No country is perfect.

I hate it when protesters put themselves in danger like that, because if anything happened to the idiots, the rescuers would also be putting thier lives in danger to rescue them.....but they dont think that through do they? nah, its all about tibet, not about personal responsibility and common sense

If San Francisco had to cancel every event because of protesters they couldn't even open a Dress Barn because of cruelty to fashion.

The Olympics should be about the athletes who have dedicated their lives to have the opportunity to compete in the biggest competition in the world. Its unfortunate that China was picked to host the games but that's not the athletes fault.

While I do not agree with China's politics it saddens me that the focus has been taken off so many talented athletes. The games to me have always represented sport not politics. People have worked so hard to get to the Olympic level to have it possibly taken away from them is really unfair. Where were these protesters when the IOC was going through the process of choosing China as the host country?

They were protesting outised the IOC headquarters. The IOC closed the drapes...

Hey raciccarone Dress Barn has got some fierce little one pieces in their windows now. LOL!

Seriously though I am here in San Francisco and the authorities are going to make an unannounced change to the route for obvious reasons. Like I said in another post this is a situation where passion not diplomacy will dictate terms. The volatile and dangerous positions these protesters have placed themselves in only goes to show how desperate they are to make the world hear their cry for help.

There were concerns back in 2001 when China got the games. Those against Beijing brought in the Dalai Lama who referred to China's actions against Tibet as "cultural genocide." Beijing had promised the IOC that in the seven years before hosting, that it would improve its human rights record. Guess this is a good reason to make a country actually live up its promises before rewarding them.

im sorry but blame the un who did not think of the athletes, not the protestors. everyone knew that this would happen, you cannot be a communist country who is guilty of numerous human rights abuses, who murders their dissenters and expect people to just sit still while they try to become more accepted on a global scale.

I believe that China is a poor choice to host, however, I wholeheartedly disagree with protestors attacking the relay runners and, as said above, putting themselves in danger like that. I too feel saddened for the atheletes who have worked so hard and have all attention directed away from their efforts because of the host country. (On a somewhat unrelated note: go Chicago for 2016!)

I agree with SkinnyMarie and piper23. The Olympics should only be about the athletes.
What happened during the torch race in France was shameful.

I probably shouldn't even go here... but is there a point where we can put other people's needs over the athletes? Yes, its nice to have an international display of athletic talent, but it isn't as if athletes don't have other venues for display. And in many country, the Olympic athletes are helped along the way to the games. The Chinese guy thrown in prison last week for publicizing China's human rights violations, who won't see his baby daughter until she's 4 years old, could use someone to stick up for him.

as i've said before in other posts about this same issue, the OLYMPICS ARE NOT ABOUT POLITICS. if you read the official document on olympism, it clearly states that they do not choose host cities based on politics. can you imagine if they did? people dont like the U.S. for certain things we do, and who are we to say that what we do is right or wrong? i'm not against the U.S. and I certainly don't support China for their humans right violations. i think China is such a backwards country. BUT opinions on the issue have NOTHING to do with the olympics.

Up until 2001, they apparently picked countries based on who paid the best bribes - but since we all know that the host country gets a huge boost from the Olympics, we should have some sort of standard, or make a real effort to keep politics and nationalism out and keep it strictly about sports and the athletes. Don't play national anthems at medal ceremonies, don't count medals by country.

whomever says that the olympics is not about politics is naive. what about when we boycotted the russian olympics during the cold war? are we just lazy now? im sorry the ioc knew this would happen and hopefully they will never choose an communist and oppressive country to represent the world.

The Olympics are not SUPPOSED to be about politics. We are the idiots who can't get over our political differences and make it part of the Olympics. Its about the athletes playing for their country and showing their pride in their country through sport.

Their may be human rights violations in china, but it should be taken care of on a different platform.

Support your athletes who work full time to be an athlete and have a full time job to support their dreams to have a gold medal.