LHASA, China: The capital of Tibet prepared yesterday to host the Olympic torch relay, three months after violent anti-government rioting rocked the city.
The relay, which was disrupted during several legs outside of China by protests against Beijing’s policies in Tibet, was scheduled to be held in Lhasa today.
The 6.8-mile (11-kilometer) run will begin at Norbulingka, the Dalai Lama’s former summer palace, and end at the hilltop Potala Palace, the traditional seat of Tibetan rulers, the state-run China Daily newspaper reported. The article did not mention any security measures taken for the relay. Yesterday, shops were open and people were walking around in the center of Lhasa, where banners saying “Go China” and “Go Olympics” had been strung up.
During the Lhasa leg, the Olympic flame will be reunited with the one that was taken separately to the top of Mount Everest last month.
