By Simon Evans
SUSA, Italy – The Olympic torch was diverted away from two towns about 50 kms from Turin on Sunday because of feared trouble from protestors opposed to a rail development.
Winter Olympics organizing committee (TOROC) spokesman Stefano Coscia told Reuters that the police had advised that the torch should not to be taken through the Susa Valley towns of Bussoleno and Borgone Susa.
Earlier on Sunday, a protestor had briefly covered the torch with a flag during chaotic scenes when it entered Italy’s Susa Valley, the focal point for a campaign against a high-speed rail project.
“The police told us not to go through Bussoleno and Borgone Susa through public order concerns,” Coscia said.
Instead, the torch was taken directly to the nearby mountain town of Bardonecchia where an evening celebration was held attended by hundreds without any further problems.
“Everything is fine in Bardonecchia,” said Coscia who added that an extra leg had been added between the town of Oulx and Bardonecchia to ensure the runners who lost their turn earlier would not miss out on the honor of carrying the torch.
There was a heavy police presence in the valley and local environmentalists said protests had been planned for both Bussoleno and Borgone Susa. Several hundred protestors carried out their demonstration in Bussoleno despite the absence of the torch.
Flag waving protestors lined the road between Susa and Bussoleno where demonstrators carried out an alternative procession, featuring runners carrying unlit torches covered in anti-rail slogans.
One of the torches used was an official Olympic torch which had been given to Susa campaigners after being taken by a sympathizer during an earlier leg of the tour, Piercarlo Coperto, a demo organizer said.
The two main corporate sponsors of the torch procession, Samsung and Coca Cola, had opted out of participating in Sunday’s leg of the tour, a TOROC spokesman said.
The communist mayor of Bussoleno had initially said he would refuse to allow Coke to hand out their publicity in the town before later changing his mind.
SYMBOLISE FRIENDSHIP
The torch, which began its journey in Athens on December 6, is due to arrive in Turin on Thursday, the eve of the Games which continue until February 26.
It is supposed to symbolize friendship across the nations but has been the focus at recent Winter and Summer Games for protests.
Campaigners for Tibet, against Olympic sponsor Coca-Cola and the high-speed Susa Valley train route, have held demonstrations during its journey through Italy from Rome but this is the first time that protestors have forced a diversion.
More than 1,000 people had lined the central streets of the town of Susa, with many congregating on a bridge where the torch procession crossed. One demonstrator covered the flame with a protest flag, either trying to smother it or to ignite the flag.
However, the runner continued moving and a policeman escorted the protestor away within seconds. It was not immediately clear if any arrests were made.
Although there were some chaotic scenes on the narrow bridge where the incident took place, the demonstration was peaceful with families and a local drumming band taking part.
Hundreds of banners and flags of opposition to the railway covered a central square with one declaring ‘Hands off Susa Valley’ but while police were jeered and whistled, the torch runner was applauded by many in the crowd.
There have been numerous protests against a high-speed rail link planned between Italy and France as the torch has made its way around Italy ahead of the Winter Games that start on Friday.
The Susa Valley lies on the French-Italian border about 50 kms north of Turin and connects the city with mountain resorts which will be used for the Games.
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