Last modification: 06/08/08
 -  China - sport
 
On the Road to Beijing
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The Olympic torch is travelling from its historic home in Olympia, Greece, to the Chinese capital Beijing for the 2008 Olympic Games. Watch its progress in FRANCE 24's weekly programme, "On the Road to Beijing."
"On the Road to Beijing" is a weekly programme that follows the 130-day relay of the Olympic torch as it makes its way from ancient Olympia in Greece to the brand new Olympic Stadium in Beijing - 137,000 km in all. Hosted by Antoine Cormery, the show also follows preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games around the world, as athletes, sponsors, businesses, journalists - and demonstrators angry over China's actions in Tibet - get ready for the big event.

The programme airs as follows (Paris time, GMT+1):

Saturdays at 7:15am, 1:20pm, 7:20pm and 11:20pm.
Sundays at 9:50am, 4:20pm and 10:20pm
Mondays at 5:50am.

  • ON THE ROAD TO BEIJING
    Beijing is ready for Olympic Games
    With just six days to go before the opening ceremony, FRANCE 24's Antoine Cormery takes a last tour in the Chinese capital, where everything is ready to welcome the games.
  • ON THE ROAD TO BEIJING
    Reporter's notebook
    Antoine Cormery is following the Olympic torch on its way from Greece to Beijing. Follow him across five continents during his weekly show "On the Road to Beijing". Read his notebook and send him your questions on this page.
    (1) comment
  • BEIJING GAMES 2008
    China lifts some Olympic Internet restrictions
    Chinese authorities have agreed to lift some Internet restrictions for the upcoming Olympic Games following a meeting with the International Olympic Committee on Thursday night.
  • INTERVIEW - OLYMPIC TORCH
    Angela Qiu, Olympic torch designer
    Head of the Lenovo design department, Angela Qiu explains how she designed the Olympic torch. Dubbed "cloud of promise," the flame evokes the Chinese symbol of harmony, while its colour, red, is meant to bring good luck.

Related links

  • JUDO - BEIJING 2008
    French Judo team touches down in Beijing
    The French Judo team has touched down in Beijing led by Teddy Riner, a former World and European Champion in the Heavyweight class, hoping to extinguish memories of Athens where they failed to bring back a single gold medal.
  • BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008
    Olympic flame finally arrives in Beijing
    At last, the Olympic flame has completed its worldwide odyssey, arriving in Beijing on Tuesday in plenty of time before the 'Greatest Show on Earth' gets underway in the Chinese capital on August 8.
  • SECURITY - BEIJING 2008
    Security tight as Olympics appoach
    With the 2008 Olympic Games fast approaching, security is tight in and around Beijing, with the 100,000-strong police force very much in evidence around the Chinese capital.
  • CYCLING - BEIJING 2008
    Longo defies her years to earn Olympic selection
    At the ripe old age of 49 Jeannie Longo is a legend on two wheels. An Olympic champion back in 1996, she's once again earned the right to aim for further glory, after winning a 54th national title to qualify for Beijing.
  • ATHLETICS - BEIJING 2008
    Bolt wants double whammy
    Jamaican Usain Bolt, top favourite for the 200m race in the Beijing Olympics, will also attempt to win the most prestigious race, the 100m, according to his agent. He already beat the 100m world record last May.
  • CHINA - OLYMPICS
    Athletes' village officially opens in Beijing
    The Athletes' Olympic Village held its official opening ceremony Sunday morning. China was the first delegation to raise its flag at the village, with NBA star Yao Ming among the hundreds of athletes present.
  • GERMANY - OLYMPICS
    Discus queen won't go to Beijing
    Three time discus world champion Franka Dietzsch has decided not to participate to the Beijing Olympic Games. The 40-year old athlete was one of Germany's top medal hopes but has gone through a recent run of poor form.
  • IRAQ - BEIJING 2008
    Iraq banned from Beijing Games
    Iraqi athletes will take no part in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspended Iraq for "political interference" in the country's Olympic committee.
  • Beijing OLYMPIC
    'Iranian Hercules' out of Olympic Games
    Twice Olympic champion Hossein Rezazadeh has been forced to pull out of this year's Olympic Games. The "Iranian Hercules" has bowed to his doctor's advice, telling him not to carry out any "heavy and stressful activity".
  • ATHLETICS - BEIJING 2008
    Powell and Bolt neck and neck ahead of Olympics
    Jamaica's Asafa Powell clocked 9.88 seconds on Tuesday at at the IAAF Grand Prix meeting's 100 metres, just 0.01 second ahead of his fellow countryman and record holder Usain Bolt. At the Jamaican selections in June, Bolt was the fastest.
  • RUNNING
    Cuba's Robles breaks 110m hurdles world record
    Dayron Robles beat the previous 110m hurdles record of Chinese runner Liu Xiang at the Ostrava grand prix, in the Czech Republic. The 21-year old Cuban has set seven of the eight fastest indoor times this year.
  • BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008
    Olympic torch lit at Mount Everest summit
    Chinese climbers carrying the Olympic flame reached the summit of Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain, state television showed. Weather had delayed the ascent for days. (Story: T. Adamson-Coumbousis)
  • BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008
    Chinese cheer torch's return in Macao
    Hundreds of Chinese supporters greeted the Olympic torch's return to mainland China, shouting "Go Bejing Go." Meanwhile, the flame's progression to the top of Mount Everest was halted by heavy snowfalls. (Report: V.Giebel, K.Williams)
  • BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008
    Torch bearers to take up final leg of Everest ascent
    Chinese mountaineers carrying the Olympic torch made it to the 6,500-meter high advanced base camp on the Chinese side of Everest. The date of the final ascent will be set according to weather conditions. (Story: C.Moore)
  • BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008
    Thousands cheer Olympic torch relay in Hong Kong
    Tens of thousands of people turned out to cheer the Beijing Olympic torch in Hong Kong. The torch relay ended after a trouble-free run. AFP correspondent Guy Newey reports.
  • N. KOREA - OLYMPIC TORCH
    Olympic torch paraded through Pyongyang
    After a tense relay in the South Korean capital Seoul, China's close ally North Korea promised an "astonishing" relay in a country where protesters are usually executed. (Story: J. Jackson)
  • 2008 BEIJING OLYMPICS
    Olympic torch arrives in South Korea
    The Olympic torch arrived in South Korea for one of the last legs of its worldwide journey to Beijing. At least four people were injured during the torch relay in Japan, where pro-Chinese and pro-Tibet protesters clashed again.
    (1) comment
  • 2008 BEIJING OLYMPICS
    Scuffles break out in Japan torch relay
    At least four people were injured during the Japanese leg of the troubled Olympic torch relay, in the latest standoff between Chinese and pro-Tibet demonstrators. The flame's next stop is the South Korean capital Seoul. (Report: T. Grucza)
  • 2008 BEIJING OLYMPICS
    Tense Bangkok torch relay ends
    The heavily-guarded Bangkok relay came to an end on Saturday as the Olympic flame completed its relatively uneventful 10 km run despite noisy demonstrations by pro-Tibet and Chinese supporters.
  • THAILAND
    Torch-bearer boycotts Bangkok Olympic relay
    As Thai authorities take measures to avoid anti-China protests during the Olympic torch relay in Bangkok Saturday, FRANCE 24 correspondent Cyril Payen spoke to Narisa Chakrapongse, the first torch bearer to boycott the relay.
    (1) comment
  • 2008 BEIJING OLYMPICS
    Japan Buddhist temple boycotts torch relay
    Protesting against Chinese repression in Tibet, Buddhist monks at the Zenkoji temple in Japan have pulled out of the upcoming Olympic torch relay. The temple in Nagano was scheduled to be the starting point of the relay.
  • INDIA - OLYMPIC TORCH
    Olympic torch in India, Tibetan refuge country
    The Olympic torch continues its relay Thursday in the Indian capital of New Delhi. India is home to the largest Tibetan community outside China and tight security has been deployed to keep anti-Chinese protesters at bay. (Report: L. Kammourieh)
    (2) comments
  • BEIJING OLYMPICS 2008
    Olympic torch reaches Islamabad amid tight security
    After a peaceful journey through Oman, the Olympic torch arrived in the Pakistani capital Islamabad amid heavy security on the first stage of its Asian tour.
    (1) comment
  • 2008 BEIJING OLYMPICS
    Olympic torch enjoys trouble-free relay in Oman
    The only threat to torch carriers on Monday was the Gulf's scorching heat, which the organisers avoided by holding the event in the evening. Unlike earlier stages of the relay, this leg was free from protests against Chinese repression in Tibet.
    (1) comment
  • BEIJING 2008 - IOC
    IOC rules out ending the torch relay
    Despite the controversial stops in London and Paris, IOC president Jacques Rogge said he is not considering ending the torch relay.
  • 2008 BEIJING OLYMPICS
    China condemns Olympic torch disruptions
    China condemned disruptions of the Olympic torch relay in Europe. As the torch makes its way to San Francisco, three Tibet supporters scaled the Golden Gate Bridge to unfurl Tibetan flags. (Report: H.Morton, S. de Belzic)
  • 2008 OLYMPICS - FRANCE
    Protests cut short Paris leg of Olympic torch relay
    Pro-Tibetan protesters succeeded in disrupting the Olympic torch relay in Paris, forcing officials to put the torch on a bus after a day of clashes, when the flame was extinguished three times. (Report : R. Thompsett)
    (1) comment
  • 2008 OLYMPICS
    Scuffles disrupt Olympic torch relay in London
    Anti-China protesters, many draped in Tibetan flags, repeatedly disrupted the Olympic torch relay through London despite a heavy security presence and about a dozen arrests along the route.
    (1) comment
  • INTERVIEW
    Romain Mesnil, President of the French Athletes Union
    Pole vault vice-champion Romain Mesnil is in favour of a middle way between boycott and silence, suggesting athletes should emphasise their attachment to human rights, for instance by wearing a green ribbon during the Beijing Games.
    (1) comment
  • FOOTBALL - OLYMPIC GAMES
    India's football star pulls out of Olympic torch relay
    Bhaichung Bhutia, captain of the Indian national football team, decided not to carry the Olympic torch as a sign of protest against the repression in Tibet.
  • BEIJING 2008 OLYMPICS
    Olympic torch relay celebrated amid high security
    China celebrated the start of the Olympic torch relay on Monday, but heavy security highlighted concerns that protests over Tibet and human rights may tarnish its historic journey. Henry Morton reports.
  • TIBET - CHINA
    China gets Olympic torch amid protests
    Greece handed over the Olympic flame to China at a packed stadium in Athens amid protests by pro-Tibet demonstrators who tried to stop the flame from getting there.
  • BEIJING - OLYMPIC GAMES
    The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
    Beijing, China's dynamic capital, is preparing to host more than 550,000 visitors and 10,500 athletes at the 2008 Olympic Games starting August 8.

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