Apr 8, 2008 10:39 pm US/Central
Will Protests Hurt Chicago's Olympic Aspirations?
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Pro-Tibetan demonstrators carry signs and flags during a demonstration April 8, 2008 in San Francisco, California. Protestors are staging demonstrations against China as San Francisco prepares to host the Olympic Torch relay on Wednesday.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
The longest Olympic torch relay ever is threatened with being cut short by worldwide protests over 2008 host China's action in Tibet.
And, as CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports, Chicago's hopes of hosting the 2016 Games could be affected by what happens in San Francisco Wednesday.
The torch arrived in San Francisco Tuesday morning, and was immediately taken into hiding.
But there was no hiding protesters preparing to demonstrate -- if not disrupt -- the United States' leg of the worldwide relay.
Authorities are worried about the planned 6-mile path by the San Francisco Bay, to be run by some 80 official torch-bearers on Wednesday.
"It will change right up until that torch is passed, potentially even through the middle of the relay," said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom of the planned relay route.
Protests in Greece, France and London have already marred the torch relay, and International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge is considering cutting it short.
"The protest taking place all over the world sends a clear message to the Chinese," one protestor said.
Americans joining other protesters is one thing, but Sen. Hillary Clinton is also calling on President George W. Bush to boycott opening ceremonies, the year before the IOC votes on which city will get to host the 2016 Games.
"Senator Clinton is entitled to her opinions but our opinion is this: it's a sporting event and we're focused on being part of that sporting event," said Chicago 2016 spokesperson Patrick Sandusky. "Should we make the candidate phase, we would attend Beijing should we be so lucky to be invited."
It would be ironic if something that happened in San Francisco, before it withdrew, Chicago's toughest competitor for the U.S. Olympic bid, jeopardized the city's chances. More likely though, is that Chicago will soon be elevated from applicant city to candidate city, and despite the controversy over China, remain a strong contender for the 2016 Games.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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