‘Play the game’ Olympics plea

Apr 4 2008 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

Torch dims

THE Chinese ambassador is close to withdrawing from the Olympic torch relay in London.

Fu Ying had been due to be one of the 80 torch-bearers in Sunday’s event but her participation has now been cast into doubt.

A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in London confirmed the ambassador has been instructed to remain with the Beijing Olympic delegation.

He said: "She is required by Beijing to be with the delegation coming to London. I am not sure whether she can do it (the relay) or not."

Demonstrators are planning to stage protests along the route over the Chinese government’s human rights record in Tibet.

Losing out

THE warning letter follows revelations that the Government had launched a series of multi-million pound raids on regional cash pots to fund the Olympics.

When the games were first announced in 2005, organisers predicted costs of £2.4bn. By 2007 the Government was admitting to costs of £9.3bn.

More than £2.2bn was diverted from National Lottery charitable causes. Sport England lost around £50m, with £4.4m from the North East branch. In March, Lib Dem research revealed that the region had missed out on £102m because of the Olympics.